The Brothers Poem is a work by the archaic Greek poet Sappho
(c. 630 – c. 530 BC) that had been lost since antiquity until it
was rediscovered in 2014. Most of its text survives, apart from its
opening lines. Known only from papyrus fragments (pictured), it mentions
two of Sappho's brothers, Charaxos and Larichos. This is the only known
mention of their names in Sappho's writings, though they are known from
other sources. These references, and aspects of language and style, have
been used to establish her authorship. The poem is structured as an
address – possibly by Sappho herself – to an unknown person. The
speaker chastises the addressee for saying repeatedly that Charaxos will
return (possibly from a trading voyage), maintaining that his safety is
in the hands of the gods and offering to pray to Hera for his return.
The narrative then switches focus from Charaxos to Larichos, who the
speaker hopes will relieve the family from their troubles when he
becomes a man.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brothers_Poem>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1948:
Indonesian National Revolution: Dutch forces captured the
Indonesian Republic's temporary capital, Yogyakarta, and seized
President Sukarno.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Kraai>
1971:
Two groups of French doctors involved in humanitarian aid
merged to form Médecins Sans Frontières.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9decins_Sans_Fronti%C3%A8res>
1987:
The deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in history occurred
when the MV Doña Paz sank after colliding with an oil tanker in the
Tablas Strait, Philippines, resulting in an estimated 4,000 deaths.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Do%C3%B1a_Paz>
1999:
Portugal transferred the sovereignty of Macau, which it had
administered since the mid–16th century, to China.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macau>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
bewilder:
(transitive) To confuse, disorientate, or puzzle someone, especially
with many different choices.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bewilder>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Our enemy really isn't capitalism, it's cynicism. That's one the
things I learned from Woody … Not to be cynical … That cynicism …
It destroys you, it rots you away from the inside. So that sense of
optimism and humanity … which 20 years ago I would have called
socialism but now I'll call compassion … You know, that idea is still
out there and alive and if you can plug into that and encourage that it
makes it all worth while.
--Billy Bragg
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Billy_Bragg>