Homophobic historians claiming Sappho was straight is simultaneously so hilarious and so infuriating.

Historians are always like "THERE HAS TO BE A HETEROSEXUAL EXPLANATION FOR THIS."

Re: Being described as having "violet" hair. Violet in ye olde days wasn't a word for purple, it was a word for blue. One with violet hair would have the classically 'true black' blue-black hair that was so coveted compared to brown-black hair.

Fun fact: older cultures sometimes used different words to describe colors. Ancient Japan didn't have a word for "green" and considered it a shade of blue. So maybe Sappho's "violet" hair wasn't actually purple? But probably was a dark color - I would assume raven-colored (as in, black but maybe showing blues, greens, or purples in certain lights?). Or maybe she was just super dedicated go aesthetics and put a shit ton of energy into dying her hair. I would, if I got thrown back in time. I love my crazy colors

“I’m a lesbian, and sometimes we just eat toast.” I mean, I know most folks here are probably LGBTQ+ or allies (like myself). But damn sis, YES. ITS 👏 NOT 👏 ALL 👏 ABOUT 👏 SEX 👏

I had a Greek literature professor try to argue the "she could have been writing from the perspective of a man" framing and claim that whether or not Sappho was a lesbian isn't really important to understanding her poetry, and I genuinely have never had my respect for a teacher plummet so quickly. Also one of the funniest attempts to straightwash her poetry is that one scholar claimed that the lines "on a soft bed you let loose your longing" from frag. 94 were about taking a nap

It’s not Lesbian unless it comes from the Lesbos island of Greece, otherwise it’s just sparkling homosexuality

The idea that queer historians were trolling the people who only bothered to read translations just tickles me so so much

I was recently in a Starbucks here in the Deep South and they had a Sappho quote on their board. Either a) they have no idea she was the original Super Lesbian, or b) they were actually allies and were telling the LGBTQA+ community in a way most people down here wouldn't notice if they didn't belong to the community. Either way, I loved it.

"Calm down Victorian historians." The cry of non-male historians since 1910.

This ensemble is fantastic. Sappho would be proud 🥰

"We're here! We're queer! We're historically-confirmed-to-have-been around-for-at-least-approximately-four-thousand-five-hundred-ish years!" Lovely video & outfit! 💜

No one can wear a crown of golden laurel leaves like you, Jessica. 🎀💖🎀

I would love to see one on Alan Turing how was know for his Turing machine and played a crucial role in cracking coded messages from the axis power and is considered the father of the modern computer.

"That is a niche that honestly....ticks my boxes" MRS. Kellgren-Fozard, such bold language! 😂

As someone who comes from the island of Lesbos, this video makes me really happy. :D I make a point to talk about this whenever there is an opportunity (usually when I introduce myself for the first time, it becomes a talking point) because even though I am not part of the LGBTQ+ community, I think it is really important to highlight parts of history that are often overlooked or intentionally erased in mainstream education. To this day, I am yet to find someone who knows about Sappho or how the term Lesbian came to be; I will be pointing them to your video from now on also. Love your work!

Jessica: proof that homosexuality is as old as legends Sappho from up above: I'm proud of you my fellow sapphic woman now I could rest at peace

Ah, the history books that list roommates. Tale as old as time. Reminds me of when I was ten and my parents finally told me, yeah, Robin is not Grandma's roommate. lol. (They got married in 2011 so yay!)

"I'm a lesbian, and sometimes we just eat toast" is a phenomenal statement! I may have to get that on a mug 😂

Lovely video, and lovely costume! Thank you for talking about Sappho; it warms my scholarly heart. Sappho's poetry was actually my dissertation focus, and I've spent FAR too much time detangling silly myths about her. I feel inspired to do a deep dive on my own channel now! Suffice to say, YES she loved other women, and NO she likely didn't ever meet Alcaeus or actually know a boatman named Phaon. We don't even have real evidence for her 'circle' except that she seems to have had a lot of female friends, which, would be kinda normal? Also, Erinna was a fellow female poet from a similar time who wrote didactic epic rather than lyric poetry. No evidence they knew each other, either, but HUZZAH for ancient poetesses!

I genuinely believe that if you created videos on the historical topics/periods/places/etc that are taught in high schools and college, the world would learn and retain far more than ever before. I am so happy for your and Claud's growing family and hope you are adjusting as best as you possibly can to parenthood. You both are amazing mothers and I hope you both never doubt that!

Oh my god! I have that olive branch tiara too! I wear it around the house and it makes life 100 times more fabulous.

Quora says: “The epithet ioplókamos “violet-tressed”, e.g. having hair of a dark colour, is applied to the Muses.” [edit:] After further research I found that “violet” was also used for describing breasts, and possibly meant “smelling like violets”. So it seems more logical to me that hair and breasts both would be described as smelling like violets, rather than describing color. Or maybe, like Pat The Plant wrote below, it described flower adornments for heads and chests.

I just came back from my cousin’s presentation of his poetry book about his coming out, and he talked about Sappho too, so this video is fitting in perfectly in my day 💕

FYI, Natalie Barney wasn't an orphan. She inherited her fortune after her father died, but her mother Alice, and sister Laura, lived on. They're both fascinating in their own right. Alice was a painter for instance, and used Natalie as a model for Lucifer. There's a great book about Natalie her sapphic circle called "Wild Heart" by Suzanne Rodriguez.

I heard that "violet" was also a poetic way to describe black/dark colored! im not sure though

As a straight, cis black woman i really like your series...it's interesting, entertaining and well researched.

For my LGBT choir's 20th anniversary we ran a composition competition to increase the amount of LGBT specific choral pieces and the winner was Three Songs of Sappho by Nicholas Tristan. Three of Sappho's poems set to music. It was challenging to learn, but a joy to sing. For some of our younger members this was the first time that they had heard of Sappho. There is a recording on KZfaq if anyone is interested in hearing it.

i did a whole presentation this year on sappho for my interview for teacher training course and i truly think it’s down to her. lesbians keep winning 💞

Ancient Greeks actually perceived colour differently from us. The most known example on record is Homer describing the colour of the sea as the colour of good aged wine. So, when Alcaeus said that Sappho had violet hair he probably meant something closer to burgundy or dark brown/black.

The way you give literally voice to people in history, makes their stories matter! Before our eyes you bring them to life in such a compelling way that they matter personally! What a joy to watch this intellectual firework!

Actually it was pretty common in Ancient Greece for women to completely expose their breasts in hot weather. We’ve got evidence of some dresses specifically designed without any chest covering, presumably meant to be for those days when your boobs become a sweat factory (at least those of us with larger breasts). Total Nudity was also fairly common in certain contexts, like public bathing and swimming.

Ooh I’d been hoping to learn more about Sappho so this video is perfect!

Jessica, this video warms my heart and soul! Sappho has been one of my guiding lights since I finally understood that I am bisexual and your so non-judgmental, engaging histories are always a gift!

Don’t worry about butchering the pronunciations of the names. You’re doing much better than I would and I don’t have a hearing disability. Love your outfits

"Sappho and Alcaeus" she just looks really focused on his poetry. Which fellow artists tend to do when listening to a performance.

Jessica is an ABSOLUTE GODDESS! STUNNING! BEAUTIFUL! 💖

I started playing June’s Journey because of you! I’m at level 155 now!

Regarding the whole AD/BC - CE/BCE: 1) I recently had to google it cuz I was utterly confused 2) In my native language (Czech) we simply call it "before/after our counting of time" and I really appreciate that now :D

You look so pretty, it’s insane.

I studied classics and loved this video. I've had teachers tell the class "she's not really a lesbian" and it pisses me off. It's because they studied when the fake husband script was the prominent theory

This dress is making you look fabulous! I absolutely love how sassy you are when you're tired 😂 EDIT: as a pansexual woman married to a man I can put my two hands up, why the default couldn't be any other sexuality, was there someone who decided that? May I have a second to talk with their ghost? It will be peaceful. Or maybe not.

The amount of work you do despite your chronic fatigue is incredible, thank you for another fantastic video!

This is the video all the wlw have been waiting for!

I love your story telling Jessica. Especially when it is "Salty". Great story.

The bit about "purple hair" probably means that her hair was that kind of black that has a blue-ish shimmer. The ancient Greeks were a bit weird when it comes to describing colours, there are references in old texts to the "wine-coloured" sea... 🤷‍♀️

just broke up with my gf. watching this kinda helps to get her off my mind..

Loved this video ^-^ Highly recommend the book Sapphistries for anyone interested in delving more into this topic and also a history of love between women.

Jessica looks so flawless and regal in this video and I LOVE it

Your Sappho costume is absolutely delightful! That crown is just *chief kiss*

I'm so in love with this dress! Thank you, I learned a lot about Sappho!

The words used for colours have changed meaning a lot over time and between cultures. Homer wrote of a "wine dark sea", the sea wasn't really the colour of wine, that was just what they called it.

The vibe when you say "Do we care?" is impeccable. I also love your diadem (tiara?), hair, and dress!

I'll know I've reached the peak of my transition when I can throw on an ancient Greek inspired gown and sprawl myself upon a piece of long furniture as elegantly as you can Jessica ♥️

Um, can we just appreciate how good Jessica looks here?

15:43 This might be the first time I've ever witness Jessica and anime in the same context. I love it! Also, "stonk" at 17:30!

Absolutely love the hair and tiara and love the dress and the whole ensemble is just FABULOUS 👌

I love these history lessons, so much more interesting than class ever was. The extra touch of dressing to the style of the era/person being discussed just makes it more fun. I used to sleep in world history class (back row end seat), probably a mistake then but I am awake now!

"Sapphist" sounds like it could be used to mean the same thing as "WLW": women who are attracted to women but aren't necessarily lesbians (e.g. bi/pan women are included too). It sounds like it could even be more inclusive of femme nb folks who don't consider themselves women. I like it!

Yesterday was a bit stressful for me and I can't believe I missed this perfect sounding video! I have been excited since you shared this costume and headpiece on Instagram.

first thought 'holy crap! Jessica looks absolutely stunning!' i mean, she always does, but she just looks...even more amazing today! you are just so beautiful! thank you for the wonderful videos and gorgeous style!

I love this series soooo much!

This look is EVERYTHING. I'm so excited for you to cover this topic!!

i can't wait for historians to find this KZfaq channel Jessica: Here is my loving wife, who I love romantically in a lesbian way, and our son, who we raise together as a lesbian couple. historians: Aww so glad this heterosexual woman found a girlpal roommate to help raise her child after her husband, Karl, unfortunately died before both finally found new husbands, also both named Karl.

AHHH YESSS I'VE WANTED YOU TO DO A VIDEO ON SAPPHO FOR SO LONG!!! :D I'm incredibly interested in her, it's one of my hyperfixations, and your historical profile videos always fill me with so much excitement and glee, so this combination is literally perfection for me!!

Oh my god, I'm so excited you mentioned the Suda because most people don't know that's the source for most of our biographical information about Sappho (plus her poems), however unreliable it might be. Also, I study classics in university and in last semester's linguistics class, one of the things we talked about was dialects, including the "Lesbian dialect" and every time I talked about what I learned at home, my parents would be like: it's so strange to hear that word purely refer to the island of Lesbos and not to sexuality. However, as a perfectionist, I want to add a few details. Sappho actually had 3 brothers (according to the Suda, but still). And historians and literary scholars do have a point when they say you should be careful claiming poetry is biographical because we know that poetry in antiquity, including love poetry, had certain tropes and typical names. However, even if the relationships in Sappho's poetry are not authentic, there's still the fact she lived with a group of girls AND the fact she wrote, as a woman, about her love for other girls, so it doesn't really matter if those relationships were fictional or not, they're still there in her poetry. The acceptance of homosexuality in her own time is also relative because lots of women got away with relationships with other women because people didn't believe women could have s*x with each other. The poem by Plato you mentioned, about the tenth Muse, is probably not by Plato, it's just attributed to him. Regarding Alcaeus, my professor literally told us last semester that he and Sappho never met, despite both being aristocrats in Mytilene in the same period, writing poetry (but quite different poetry, even though it's both monodic). Her supposed husband was Kerkylas, not Kerikles, since the Greek word κέρκος does indeed mean p*nis. (Andros is an actual Greek island, though, even if it's pretty much the word for "man".) Omitting the initial aspiration just means they had no H sound (neither did other dialects in that region, which is the reason the letter H was used for the èta and not the aspiration). Like other people have said, "violet-haired" probably doesn't mean she had purple hair. There's been a lot of debate on Greek colours because Homer described the sea as "wine-coloured" and ξανθός, traditionally interpreted as yellow/green, is used for human skin. So Sappho probably just had dark or black hair. Sorry about the essay (didn't mean to write so many corrections/additions), so as a bonus, I'm gonna say we only have 1 complete poem by Sappho, which was the first in the Alexandrian edition. This is the so-called Hymn to Aphrodite, in which she asks the goddess for help to win back her lover, but only in the 5th (of 6) stanza, it becomes clear that she's talking about a woman, and even then only because of a feminine participle. Naturally, because it's such a small thing, lots of translators and such have tried to erase the fact that poem is about a female lover.

I needed this. Comphet has been wearing me down. I genuinely was starting to question my identity again for no real reason except lack of rep in my life.

I detect some wonderful shades of Contrapoints in your pointed sarcasm this episode; the costume is clearly freeing. Love it!

my first middle name (i have two middle names lol) is sapphire, i’m a lesbian who was born in june (pride month)… my parents shouldn’t have been so surprised when i came out…. 🙃

the most beautiful, smooth, soft, sapphic video ever! seriously, Jessica, you did IT! much love

Yes! I’ve been waiting for this one and boy it was well worth the wait, I love the sarcasm laced throughout, definitely brightened my week. Thank you and all hail Sappho!

Goodness I love this video. The dress, the sass, the different camera angles! Beautifully made Jessica!

These historical profiles are probably my favorite content from you! Super interesting every time!

I'm just all in for Jessica dressing the part on the historical profiles

your greek muse inspired getup is absolutely gorgeous jessica omg and im learning so much toooo love your vids!!!

I’ve always heard BCE as Before Common Era as opposed to Current Era. I’m in the US.

I don't know if it's the prime Sappho exposure, or if really is just the incredible cut of that dress, but my heterosexuality has been compromised. I've also proven one can listen to, respect, and learn from a beautiful woman WHILST objectifying her somewhat. Men really do need to get better at multitasking.

your hair are SO PRETTY !!!! Thank you so much for this video !

That bit about her having purple hair, it is possible she just dyed it. But given that at that time purple dye came from crushed snails and was stupidity expensive, it would make her net wealth in today's money in the tens of billions.

SAPPHO! YES! And the dress suits you so nicely

Great to see you back

I thoroughly enjoyed this😊 The pictures, the history, the comments, your outfit. It was all SO GOOD! I learned a lot, thank you. Also, congrats on the award that you won! Well deserved!

I loved EVERYTHING about this video!!!! The message, the outfit, just everything!!!!

This is ㅡ by far ㅡ one of the most entertaining videos I've ever seen. Thanks, Jessica! I'm a big fan. ♡

Check out Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics. It's a radio show/podcast and she's super salty about literally everyone in antiquity. Her episode on Sappho is brilliant.

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY support the decision to throw beautiful costume elements into your historical profile videos! ♥️♥️♥️♥️

your channel is the best channel on youtube i swear!! thank you for all the care you put into these videos 💕 sending love to you and your family

Whatever Alma-Tadema's intentions, I totally interpret his painting as wholesome admiration between colleagues, nothing more nothing less (which is almost the vibe I get from Alcaeus, who almost seems politely worshipful in that fragment to me)

Lol I am never disappointed nor can I get enough of Jessica’s energy and informatively positive spirit 😂❤️🥰❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😍🤩

Your channel is where I go when I'm feeling down. Thank you for this amazing content!

Lovely as always, Jessica!! And that Greek ATTIRE suits you SO well, I am truly stunned. Your loveliness grows with every video, my dear!

I humbly ask that you do more presentations of these matters of history. Love the costume and the poetry.👸

This was another very developed and presented history video.

Your videos always bring me so much joy. Thank you Jessica for this brilliant video! So fun and educational

I continue to be impressed by Jessica's ability to rock literally any outfit

Fun fact tho, while Sappho was almost definitely a lesbian, "sapphic/sapphist" can be used to describe any woman who loves other women--gay, bi, pan, etc.

I'm so glad to watch you talk about Sappho ! Her poetry is indeed very gay and we must honor the lesbian icon.

I'm super in love with Jessica's look in this video! The hair, dress, accesories, and everything! Reawakened my Greek mythology phase.

I'm pausing the video to say YOU LOOK ABSOLUTELY FREAKING GORGEOUS this dress with your hair color and the crown perfection chef kiss ethereal queen

Omg finally, Ive been waiting for this historical profile!!