Have you ever wondered about the origins of the word ‘sapphic’? It is a word highly used in the queer community, but its roots can be traced back centuries, specifically to ancient Greece, an era renowned for its poetry, passionate love and intense expressions of emotion.

Though ‘sapphic’ is often used interchangeably with ‘lesbian’ in casual contexts, its definition doesn’t strictly only apply to this group. It is an umbrella term that can be used by bisexuals, pansexuals, trans femmes, cis women and many other different gender identities. This is because ‘sapphic’ is simply a way to describe the intention of attraction through the female gaze. 

But to fully understand the origin of the term ‘sapphic’ we have to backdate to the seventh century BC. We travel to the Island of Lesbos in Ancient Greece where clear waters surround a volcanic thermal spring with land full of food like grapes, cereals, olives and sardines. 

This paradise was home to Sappho, a lyrical poet renowned for her intimate and passionate works that expressed her love for men and women. 

Sappho’s ancient poetry also contains many references to flowers and nature, specifically purple and violet blossoms, which is perhaps why this colour became so associated with the queer community, among the many other existing LGBTQ+ symbols.

Over time, Sappho’s work became a reference for femme sexuality, hence the adaptation of her name into ‘sapphic’ to refer to ‘women’s love’.

However, the essence of the word ‘sapphic’ carries a much deeper meaning that represents the broad spectrum of love in all of its forms. It honours the diversity of sexual identity and celebrates compassion and tenderness among women. To identify something as ‘sapphic’ refers to attraction and community, and holds a much broader meaning that surpasses the superficial definition of love as it is conventionally understood. 

Therefore, it is not surprising that ‘sapphic’ is today claimed as a source of empowerment for women who love women. 

Thus, whether you identify as lesbian, pansexual, trans or other, if you seek a term that reflects a connection rooted in physical femme attraction as well as emotional intimacy and spiritual closeness, ‘sapphic’ may be the word that resonates with you most deeply.