Published: 2019-06-22

Bilitis. Between Pornographic and Lesbian Text

Mateusz Skucha Logo ORCID
Section: Essays and Articles
https://doi.org/10.31261/SSP.2019.13.09

Abstract

The article is devoted to The Songs of Bilitis, published at the end of 19th century in France by Pierre Louÿs, who posed as a discoverer and translator of ancient pieces by a beloved Sappho’s apprentice, but in fact authored them. The songs are divided into three parts. In the initial one, Bilitis is a young girl discovering for the first time her corporeality and sexuality. In part two, she resides in the island of Lesbos and is in a fulfilling/happy relationship with Mnasidika. In part three, she is in Cyprus as a temple courtesan. Ramifications of the mentioned literary forgery are a key point here, namely: What occurs in literary (and lovers’) communication if one assumes the authorship by a women or, conversely – if we assume a male authorship.

Download files

Citation rules

Skucha, M. (2019). Bilitis. Between Pornographic and Lesbian Text. Śląskie Studia Polonistyczne [Silesian Journal of Polish Studies], 13(1), 113–130. https://doi.org/10.31261/SSP.2019.13.09

Cited by / Share

COVER 2019 1 (13)

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2019)
Published: 2019-06-28


ISSN: 2084-0772
eISSN: 2353-0928

Publisher
Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego | University of Silesia Press

This website uses cookies for proper operation, in order to use the portal fully you must accept cookies.