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Kat Cooper
Western Heritage 1.38
Mr. McGuire
19 October 2016
Women Roles in Sappho and Homers work
Throughout history, it is proven that womens rights have always been a sensitive topic
and struggle. Women in Ancient Greece typically were portrayed as unequal to men. The epic the
Iliad written by Homer (translated by Barry B. Powell), who is considered one of the finest
Greek poets, is a story about the Ancient Greeks Trojan war. Throughout the story, women are
defined in the Ancient Greek view that they are inferior to men. On the other hand Sappho, a
Greek lyrical poet who originated from the Island of Lesbos, provides a different view on how
women are portrayed in Ancient Greece. Throughout her poetry, she confesses her love and
trouble for many different women which provides the reader of a different view on womens
roles in society. Although there are many differences among Homer and Sapphos pieces, there
are more similarities that appear to the reader.
In the Iliad as well generally in Ancient Greek writing the authors portray a male
dominated life and relay an idea of men having all the power in daily decisions as well as
relationships. According to the Male and Females in Ancient Greek by Jennifer Smith, a
student at Scripps college who is actively studying this topic, Females were expected to be
dutiful wives, [and] strictly adhere to their husbands order. With the men dominating, the
women would have little control over their life and decisions. In fact, in the Iliad, women were
seen as prizes which makes them appear almost as objects. The men would pass the women
on to each other through deals with one another (usually involving wars and fighting) that would

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include the women as the award. For instance, this happened to a woman named Helen in the
epic. When talking about the men fighting, Homer states, They will fight for Helen and the
treasure. Whoever is victorious, whoever proves the greater, may he take the treasure and take
the woman home. (3:93-95) This implies that Helen will automatically cooperate and will not
have a say in which man she chooses or if she will choose any of them. Later on, Helen actually
explains how she has a sweet desire for her former husband, and her city, and her parents
3:141-143 But since she was born a woman, she will be called the wife of whoever is
victorious (3:140-141) Helen did not have the choice of going back to her former husband or
her family due to her particular gender. Thus relating to the fact that women are seen as prizes
which defers them as objects. In fact, Homer actually uses the word prize in reference to a
woman. Not only was Helen in this type of situation in the Iliad but it also happened with two
other women Chryseis and Bryseis. When two Archean soldiers, Agamemnon and Achilles,
defeated a Trojan town they claimed these two women, Chryseis and Bryseis, as their award
for winning. Eventually Agamemnon had to return Chryseis to her father and so he reaches out to
obtain the other prize, Bryseis. Thus implying a man must always win a prize when they win a
battle (in this case a woman). This causes conflict between the two men and Agamemnon states
that its not right that I [Agamemnon] alone of all the Argives be without a prize. (1:117-118)
A woman referred to an award or prize makes them appear as an object or a human with little
value. Thus, creating an argument that men in the Iliad are superior to women and women are
considered an element of conquest.
On the other hand, Sappho creates a completely opposite image of women in her lyrical
poetry. Smith comments on how because of Sapphos sexuality, ideal feminine characteristics
are discussed more extensively than those of males. Hence why women are seen in a different

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light or alternate viewpoint than in the Iliad. Smith also claims that Sapphos consistent
mention of beauty and its characteristics underscore its general importance, power, and impact
on womens status in society. Thus making the reader see a different role for women in
Ancient Greek time. For an example, first, Sappho provides parts in her poems that make the
women seem independent. In Glittering-Minded deathless Aphrodite, Sappho expresses that
you [Aphrodite] heard my voice, far off, and listened / And left your fathers golden house, /
And came. The way Sappho mentions that she left her fathers golden house expresses that
she was able to leave as she pleased which shows a sign of independence. Also in Some say
horseman some say warriors she writes [Helen] left a fine husband / And headed for Troy /
without a thought for her daughter, her dear parents / led astray The way Sappho writes this
poem makes it seem as if Helen is very independent and left when she wanted to. This part of the
epic implies that Helen had a choice in leaving her husband, daughter, and her parents. Both of
these poems elaborate on the fact that as a woman, Helen or Aphrodite, one can make daily
choices without consent, specifically consent of a man. Throughout the selected poems, Sappho
amplifies her love and burning passion for women as well as her heartbreaks. She portrays
women as almost harsh, and how the topic of love is uncontrollable (specifically her love). In
particular, in Glittering minded deathless Aphrodite she writes that she doesnt want Aphrodite
to shatter my [Sapphos] heart with fierce pain. One title of her poems is actually Love shook
my heart. Or in the poem Fragments, on Love and Desire writes because those I care for
best, do me most harm Lastly, in Be here, by me she writes From aching care, and win me /
all my heart longs to win. In this example, she is saying she cant help but long to win and want
love. All of these examples express how Sappho is affected by this crazy thing called love and
how it can be unexpected/harmful to ones self. At one moment in Hes equal with the Gods,

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that man she expresses how she feels when dealing with love stating that her tongue freezes,
or shivering with sweat, cold / tremors all over the skin. Inferring that she cannot control her
body when it comes to love. She almost portrays womens emotions and actions so out of order
that it causes pain. The way Sappho feels about love is uncontrollable whether it is how others
portray their actions or her own actions. Thus overall, making women (even herself) appear as
individuals who will and can define their own actions when it comes to the topic of love. In order
to clarify her writing, Sappho expresses women being independent, harmful, and uncontrollable
under the influence of emotions and love.
In conclusion of the detailed look into Sappho and Homers writings, there are many
differences among one anothers pieces of work. One difference is implied in Smiths article on
how she mentions the idea of exaggeration and how it comes into play in ones poem. With
that concept, Homer clearly exaggerates the idea of men and how they have a lot of power while
Sappho exaggerates the role of women in her life and focuses all of her works on them. One
clear difference is in the Iliad women are seen as attainable controllable objects who will do as
the men say. The men/society do not take in account of a womans emotions and makes her obey
the certain orders given by men. On the other hand, Sappho portrays women as independent and
that a womans (whether herself or others) actions/emotions unattainable. Unattainable as in
unexpected and uncontrollable. For the women decide how she portrays her own emotions
through her actions. Throughout her poems, unexpected actions take place due to emotions of the
women. You can tell this by how Sappho is so heartbroken at times. She is so heartbroken for she
did not expect the relationships to end this way or cause her pain. Hence relaying that womens
actions, when it comes to love, our undefinable. Smith believes that the presentation of gender
roles in Ancient Greece through lyrical poetry was ultimately meant for a much more intimate

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audience than the Iliad. which can may be the explanation for why Sappho portrays women so
differently than Homer. With taking everything into an account, the differences of exaggeration
and controllability of women make Sapphos and Homers poems very different.
Although the differences may be clear to some, there are actually more similarities
among the works. Both works present women as beautiful and desirable. For in Sapphos poems
such as Stand up and look at me, face to face she expresses Unloose the beauty of your eyes
or in Some say horsemen, some say warriors she defines Helen as she who outshone / all
others in beauty. Or even in I have a daughter, golden she says I would not exchange her for
all the riches of Lydia. Those are just a few examples of how Sappho express how women are
beautiful and desirable. This occurs in the Iliad as well for characters such as Helen, who is
supposedly the prettiest of all women, or Bryseis who is no inferior in beauty, in looks, or in
character to other women. (1:114-115) With the women being beautiful and desirable they are
seen as prizes in both poems whether it was for pure love or from winning a battle. Either way,
Sappho and Homer elaborate the fact that both the Ancient Greek men and Sappho herself want
women. They both also give the impression that men are uncontrollable. Homer provides this
from how women are unable to control men and men are able to do whatever they please in life,
while women are expected to obey orders. Sappho agrees and states that in generalmen are
uncontrollable. For in Fragments, on Love and Desire, one example is talking about Eros, the
Greek God of love, being a bitter sweet, sly, and uncontrollable creature Another similarity
is both authors provide the topic of neglecting someone or something. Sappho feels neglected in
the fact that women are not treating her right and she is neglected from having love in her life.
While in the Iliad the topic of being neglected is on the idea that women are neglected from their
rights of decision making. As well as on the idea that men disregard the women until they are

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needed for the pleasure of a prize at the end of a battle. Overall, they both see women as
beautiful, as a prize in their life, men are superior and harder to control in general, and both
provide the topic of neglecting someone or something.
In the end, Sapphos and Homers writings are very unique pieces that are more similar
than different. Having such divine Ancient Greek writers portray a sensitive topic in history, is
very interesting and refreshing, in the sense of being able to explore two different opinions and
two different sides.

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Works Cited
Homer. The Iliad. Trans. Barry B. Powell. NY: Oxford University Press, 2014.
Jennifer Smith. "The Construction of Gender Roles in Sappho's Poetry." Male Female in Ancient
Greece. N.p., 2012. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.
Sappho. Selected Poems and Fragments. Trans. by A. S. Kline, 2005, pp. 4-24.