Sappho, You are My Rival! --Nossis, fr. 3

 Stranger, if you happen to sail to Mytilene,

Famous for its beautiful dances,

Famous for raising Sappho, the Graces’ own fine flower,

Please let them know that there is another:

This one was beloved by the Muses,

She was equal to Sappho, but blossomed in Locris,

And her name was Nossis.

Farewell.

O hospis, si tu ingressus fueris Mitylenen in pulchro loco positam,

Sapphus gratiarum florem immaturus,

Dicas, eam Musis esse amicam, & Locrensem illi

similes peperisse, eiusque nomen esse Nossidem, abi.

Ω ξειν, ει τύ γε πλεις ποτί καλλίχορον Μιτυλάνων

Ταν Σαπφούς χαρίτων άνθος έναυσόμενος

 Ειπείν ως Μούσαισι φίλα τήνατε Λόκρισσα

Τίκτεν ίσαις ότι θ'οι τούνομα Νοσσίς. ιθι

--Nossis, fr. 3, Translated into Latin by Io. Christopher Wolf (1733)

Nossis was considered among the famous nine women poets of ancient Greek literature. She lived in Locris (southern Italy) during the 3^rd century. Several of her poems are preserved in the Greek Anthology; like that of her literary predecessor Sappho, Nossis’ poetry provides great insight into the lives of women in the ancient world.