Ancient Sources: The Slander of Sappho

The earliest sources (rumors, gossip) we have about Sappho's life, through the lens of misogyny and queerphobia.

Oxyrhynchus papyrus, late 2nd century CE:

She has been accused by some of being irregular in her ways and a woman-lover. In appearance she seems to have been contemptible and quite ugly, being dark in complexion and of very small stature.

Suda:

She was married to a very wealthy man called Cercylas, who traded from Andros [Prick from the Isle of Man], and she had a daughter by him, called Cleis. She had three companions and friends, Atthis, Telesippa, and Megara, and she got a bad name from her impure friendship with them.