8. The Isle of Lesbos, Greece in 600 BC
While most of ancient Greek history and texts exclude the discussion of lesbian relationships, possibly due to the deep-rooted misogyny in Greek culture, the Isle of Lesbos is an extremely notable exception. Before the Greeks settled the island in the 12th century BC, there was a matriarchal culture of the island that worshipped a female goddess who served as a model for the next goddess Dionysus. The residents of the island were called Lesbians, and actually still are, from which modern English took the word for women attracted to women. The most renowned resident of Lesbos in ancient times was the poet Sappho, who became an icon for the poetic depiction of desire and love between women.
While much of Sappho’s poetry is believed lost, one complete surviving poem depicts an unknown author speaking to Aphrodite about their love for a young woman. The term sapphic, meaning relating to lesbians or lesbianism, comes from her name. Sappho was an esteemed woman and served as a mentor to young women on the island, possibly in the paiderastia sense that was common in Greece at the time. The long history of the Isle of Lesbos as a matriarchal and lesbian area led the island to become a popular tourist destination for lesbian travelers.