LIFE OF SAPPHO

Archedice of Naueratis, who was a beautiful cour-
tesan. . . . And according to Nymphis_ in his
Poyage around Asa, the courtesan of Eresus, who
was a namesake of the other Sappho and lover of
the fair Phaon, won great notoricty,

Strabo Geography [the Leucadian Cliff]: This rock
is surmounted by the temple of Apollo Leucates,
and from it is the leap which is supposed to cure
love, ‘Where Sappho first,’ to quote Menander,
‘in wild love-chase of the proud Phaon, leapt from
the far-seen rock. But now in accordance with my
vow shall thy precinct be praised, great Lord, by
reason of the Cliff Leucadian.’ 1 Though Menander
thus gives priority to Sappho, greater antiquaries
than he assign it to Cephalus son of Detoneus, It
was an old custom of the Leucadians, every year
at the sacrifice to Apollo, as an apotropaic or avert-
ing rite, to throw from the cliff some guilty person
to whom they had previously fastened all sorts of
birds and other winged creatures which by their
fluttering might break his fall. a large crowd wait-
ing below in small boats to pick him up and. if
possible carry him off to safety beyond the frontier.

Servias on the dened: Phaon, who was a ferry-
man plying for hire between Lesbos and the main-
land, one day ferried over for nothing the Goddess
Venus in the guise of an old woman, and received
from her for the service an alabaster box of unguent

1 cf. Hesych. Mil. Ξαπφώ

2 jast lineand a half added by Deutley from Hesyeh. Δλευκάδος :
gov: Mss ony 4 Es mss πτερῶν

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