The Isle of Lesbos is currently creating merry hell in the courts, with the inhabitants trying to get the use of the word "Lesbian" outlawed as a description for gay women. Apparently, they feel very aggrieved that the women who are responsible for most of their tourism trade have "usurped" the word "lesbian" when it should be used to describe inhabitants of the Isle.
So, while they try to make their case in court (whilst still insisting that they're not being homophobic), here's five facts about the Island.
1. Sappho is the lady responsible for making Lesbos so popular with lesbians. The 7th century female poet wrote poems that many have read as overtly gay. Since she was from Lesbos, lesbians have flocked there ever since. You can read some fragments of her poems here.
2. Although Greece is often seen as the first civilisation to take an enthusiastic interest in homo-eroticism, modern Greece isn't so welcoming, with many gay couples struggling to get the same civil rights as non-gays. The inhabitants on Lesbos feel that the term "lesbian" disgraces them around the world.
3. If you have a root around, you may stumble across the head of Orpheus, the famous musician from Greek mythology. He was dismembered when he displeased Dionysus, god of wine, women and song, and his head and his lyre ended up on Lesbos.
4. Hardly any of Sappho's poems survive in full, and she is one of the few (known) female poets from the ancient world. The legendary "Nine Books of Sappho" have never been found, though a fourth full poem was discovered in 2005, so you never know...
5. Lesbos is a popular gay hang out on Second Life as well. I once got my friend's avatar kicked out because I couldn't work his Mac and accidentally took all his clothes off. The island's law enforcers were not best pleased and he's never logged back on for fear of where he'll end up. Sorry Lesbos Second Lifers - it was a genuine error (but I don't expect anyone to believe such a ludicrous excuse).
Sources: Wikipedia, The Guardian, The BBC and my geeky childhood obsession with Greek mythology.
