Nossis

Nossis was a distinguished Hellenistic poet hailing from Epizephyrian Locris in Magna Graecia. Likely born into a noble family, she was well-educated and drew inspiration from the legendary Sappho, positioning herself as a rival to the famed poetess. Nossis's literary contributions include eleven or twelve surviving epigrams, primarily consisting of religious dedications and epitaphs, which are preserved in the Greek Anthology.

Her work is particularly notable for its emphasis on women's experiences, lives, and perspectives. Modern scholars, including Marilyn B. Skinner, suggest that Nossis intentionally aligned herself with a female literary tradition, setting herself apart from her male contemporaries, such as Pindar. This conscious positioning highlights her role in the evolution of women's voices in literature.

Despite being one of the best-preserved ancient Greek women poets, Nossis's work has not been fully embraced by the Greek literary canon. Her influence, however, has transcended time; in the twentieth century, the imagist poet H. D. and the French poet Renée Vivien drew inspiration from her writings, particularly in their explorations of ancient Greek women poets.