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

_______________________________ 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

_____________________________ 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

___________________________ 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