Exact original pub date unknown

[Melanti]

This book is a translation of Sappho's poetry and it's missing its original publication date - which is unknown.

Many of the other collections of Sappho's poetry use -600, but we don't know the exact date any of it was written. The exact date of her death is unknown, but it's estimated at around 570 BCE.

Which date is more appropriate? Do I use the one in line with other versions of the poetry, or the estimated year she died - which may or may not be the year she wrote her last poem?

[Z-squared]

If the original pub date is unknown, then I think the best course of action is to leave it blank.

[Melanti]

On really, really old works, there's often an estimated publication date.

The Iliad shows 800 BCE, as does The Odyssey. The Epic of Gilgamesh shows 2000 BCE, and Beowulf shows 900 CE.

So, unless we're going to erase the original publication date on all of the classics of this nature, that doesn't seem like a good argument.

Though - looking at the list above - where everything is rounded off to the nearest century, I can see a decent argument for 600 BCE.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I would use the estimated date in keeping with her other works.

[lethe]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I would use the estimated date in keeping with her other works."

Yes, so would I. The rounded-off dates are an indication that they are estimates, not precise dates.

[Melanti]

Sounds good to me.
I've updated the book.