Hitchcock

The man, the films, those blondes. Free DVD collection starting this Sunday

Navigation - link to other main sections from here

Skip Navigation

From The Times
June 24, 2005

Poem by Sappho discovered

By Adam Sherwin
A previously unknown poem by Sappho, the Ancient Greek poet, has been found on a scrap of papyrus. The poem, which reflects on growing old, is only the fourth known to have survived and was discovered last year as part of the covering of an Egyptian mummy.

The full 101-word poem, an extract from which is below, will be published in The Times Literary Supplement today, with a translation by Martin West, a renowned Greek scholar and Emeritus Fellow of All Souls, Oxford. Sappho, who wrote mainly love poems, was born on the island of Lesbos between 630 BC and 612 BC.

Extract: You for the fragrant- blossomed Muses’ lovely gifts be zealous, girls, and the clear
melodious lyre: but my once tender body old age now has seized; my
hair’s turned white instead of dark;
my heart’s grown heavy, my knees
will not support me, that once on
a time were fleet for the dance as fawns. This state I oft bemoan; but what’s to do? Not to grow old,
being human, there’s no way.

Also in UK News

Also in News

Pictures of the day

Parents of freshmen sleep on mats laid out on the floor of a gymnasium inside a university campus in Wuhan (Reuters)

A selection of the best images from around the world

Slide Show

Comment    

James-Bartholomew

open quote mark This week need not be back-to-school week. Parents as well as their kids can benefit from home education close quote mark

More...
James Bartholomew

Times Archive 1888

London Murder Map 1888

London murder map

Money Central

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo

Ten tips to negotiate a 10 per cent pay rise

    Comment Central

    Prime Minister Gordon Brown

    The Macavity Theory

    Will Gordon Brown disappear?

      School Gate

      A school girl taking an exam

      Soft A-Levels

      The subjects universities don't rate and won't take

      Cartoon

      Peter Brookes Cartoon

      More cartoons

      Most Read

      Skip Most Read

      Today

      MOST COMMENTED

      Skip Editor's Pick

      Today

      MOST CURIOUS

      Skip Most Curious

      Today

      Focus Zone

      swimmer

      Triathlon Training:

      Read the training tips and advice that helped our London Triathletes

      Focus zone, pets, 100x100

      Perfect Pets:

      Times Online's new TV show helps you make the right decisions for your pet

      Daniel Craig

      James Bond:

      Read our exclusive 100 Years of Fleming and Bond interactive timeline, packed with original Times articles and reviews

      ba business travel clouds

      Business Travel:

      The latest travel news plus the best hotels and gadgets for business travellers

      previous next

      Popular Searches on Times Online

      a level results 2008 | books | chess | currency converter | fantasy football | fashion | formula 1 | horoscopes | kajaki | mortgages | pensions | podcasts | property | rafael nadal | recipes | redundancy calculator | sudoku | wine

      Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles

      Daniel Craig

      Special

      Fleming & Bond

      Exclusive 100 year timeline

      Services

      Luxx

      The Times Luxx

      A treasure trove of baubles, booty and stylish quests

      Croatia

      Croatia 8 days from £659

      Dubrovnik, the Dalmatian Coast and Montenegro

      Credit Crunched?

      Our Credit Clinic has free help and advice

      The Singapore skyline pictured at night

      Business City Guides

      Overseas contacts and local business information

      Classifieds 

      Cars

      Skip Cars of the Week

      Jaguar XK XK V8

      2007
      £47,700

      Porsche Boxster S

      2007
      £41,899

      BMW 4.0 M3

      2008
      £41,445

      Car insurance

      Great car insurance deals online


      Jobs

      Skip Jobs of the Week
      Regional Corporate Development Manager

      £33,000
      Macmillan Cancer Support
      Central/South West

      Leadership Programme

      £50k
      NHS
      Nationwide

      International Management Trainees

      £ £30k OTE
      Meltwater News
      Nationwide

      Director of ICT

      100K
      Confidential
      London

      Properties

      NEW PRE LAUNCH In Ajman UAE

      5% below developer pre-launch price!

      The Gardens @ Riverside Quarters Wandsworth

      Luxury Appts, beautiful gardens w/ Thames views

      One Housing Group

      Great Homes Available on a shared Ownership Basis

      Holidays

      Skip Travel of the Week

      The Far East for Far Less,

      By Funway – Thailand
      from £589pp

      APT River Cruising

      Christmas Cruises
      From only £995pp

      Australia savings

      APTs East Coast now from only
      £2425pp.

      Travel insurance

      Great travel insurance deals online


      Place your advert now