Lucretius and Sapphic uoluptas

Abstract

The philosophical aspects of Sappho’s poetry are well established, as are those of Lucretius. This chapter makes the case for a number of Sapphic allusions in Lucretius, and thus strengthens the possibility for seeing theoretical points of contact between the poetic projects of the Greek and Roman poet, which are normally regarded as incompatible. The argument emerges from the close reading of Lucretius in dialogue with Sappho 1, frr. 31 and 55, and reflects on poetic and philosophical imagery of flowers, honey, and, more generally, ancient concepts of gratification. In this way the chapter outlines a common ground between Sappho and Lucretius in their poetic-philosophical concept of pleasure.