Sappho and Phaon

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Phaon, a boatman from Mitylene in Lesbos, lived a life marked by age and ugliness. One day, Aphrodite arrived on his vessel, disguising herself as an elderly crone. Phaon ferried her across to Asia Minor without expecting payment, but Aphrodite repaid him with a box of magical ointment. As soon as he applied it, Phaon's appearance transformed: he became young and stunningly beautiful. Many people were captivated by his new look, including Sappho, who fell deeply in love with him. However, their relationship was short-lived; Phaon soon grew tired of her affection and devalued her feelings. Sappho, heartbroken, took a leap into the sea, believing she would either be cured of her love or meet a tragic end. Her fate was sealed: Sappho drowned in the waters. According to legend, Phaon's own demise came at the hands of a man whose wife he had been cheating on. This captivating tale caught the attention of Catherine the Great, who commissioned numerous artworks inspired by it. Jacques-Louis David's painting 'Sappho, Phaeon and Cupid' stands out as a notable piece in The State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. A bronze bust in Ekaterininsky Park also showcases this famous story, its origins remaining unknown like those of most other sculptures in the park.