Sappho

ODE TO SAPPHO OF LESBOS

Mural by Ricardo van Zwol

Part of the Citatenroute – Rotterdam Lombardijen

This mural pays tribute to Sappho of Lesbos, a celebrated poet from ancient Greece (6th century BC). She was a pioneer of lyric poetry, focusing on love, beauty, and the inner emotional world—often expressing affection for women. Her verses remain powerful and relevant, speaking to the timeless nature of human feeling.

Artist Ricardo van Zwol created this piece using a blend of realism and abstraction. The three female portraits reflect Sappho’s emotional depth and poetic elegance.

The quote on the mural:

“Beauty lasts a moment, but goodness lasts forever”

is a modern interpretation of one of Sappho’s poetic fragments.

This mural is part of the Citatenroute (Quote Route), a cultural project that brings meaningful quotes from poets, writers, and philosophers into public spaces throughout Rotterdam Lombardijen.