One thing I found very interesting while reading Sappho's fragments was the presence of nature imagery in almost every fragment we were asked to examine and others. It seems that wherever Aphrodite or desire is concerned, there is also some reference to an element of the natural world, often flowers, fruits, or water. In Poem 1, Sappho describes Aphrodite as hitching her chariot to "swift alluring sparrows" to carry her "over black earth." Fragment 2 as translated by Gilbert is filled to the brim with imagery of luscious apple trees, dripping with droplets of cool water, as well as "a meadow team[ing] with horses" that "blooms anew with spring." Even in the fragments where Sappho is despairing the desire we assume to be presented to her by Aphrodite, she uses this language, saying in Fragment 31 that she feels "greener than wet grass" talking about the jealousy she must endure. I think it very fitting that in all these instances of desire, Aphrodite would be shrouded in imagery of nature, especially beautiful nature, such as flowers and fruits. We talked in class about how one of the creators of the world before Ouranos and Gaia was Eros, who represents desire and sex. We also discussed the fact that it's a bit odd that Aphrodite is allowed a place as one of the 12 Olympians, seeing as she actually comes from a much more ancient breed of deity. It makes sense that a way in which her relative ancientness would present itself is through the nature imagery that we constantly see surrounding her in these fragments- she is closely connected to a creator of the earth (Eros) who also represents desire and is herself directly connected to the earth and elements through her origin from the sea, not coming forth of traditional parentage (one mother, one father) as the other Olympians did. As a coherent persona, it just makes sense for Aphrodite to be surrounded by images of nature, and I love the ways that Sappho incorporates that in these fragments.
A question: Violets are mentioned in many of these fragments- what was the significance of violets in Ancient Greek culture? I tried to do some research but found sources saying everything from "grief" to "modesty" to "sex and lust."