Porphyrio on Sappho, In Hor. Ep. 1.19.28

Sappho is called “manly” because either a) she’s famous for her poetry, something that men are more likely to do, or b) because she is known to be a lesbian (tribas). 

"mascula" autem "Saffo” vel quia in poetico studio est [incluta], in quo saepius viri, vel quia tribas diffamatur fuisse.

--Porphyrio in Hor. Epist. 1.19.28

 

 Little is known about Pomponius Porphyrio, but it is suspected that he lived during the 2^nd century CE. The only work of this author that is still extant is his commentaries on the poetry of the Roman poet Horace.