ancient Greek

These are translations of ancient Greek epitaphs inscribed on steles (tombstones and other monuments) by the ancient Greeks in remembrance of their dead. I use the term "after" for my translations because they are loose translations and/or interpretations rather than word-for-word translations.

The Seikilos Epitaph
by Michael R. Burch, after Seikilos of Euterpes

1.
Shine, while you live;
blaze beyond grief,
for life is brief
and Time, a thief.

These are Michael R. Burch's modern English translations of the immortal Sappho of Lesbos, the great lyric poet who was called The Tenth Muse by her ancient peers. The other nine muses were goddesses, so Sappho was held in the very highest regard!

SAPPHO TRANSLATIONS BY MICHAEL R. BURCH

A short revealing frock?
It's just my luck
your lips were made to mock!
—Sappho, fragment 177, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch