The isles of Greece, the isles of Greece!
Where burning Sappho loved and sung,
Where grew the arts of war and peace,
Where Delos rose, and Phoebus sprung!
Eternal summer gilds them yet,
But all, except their sun, is set.

In this stanza from "Don Juan," Lord Byron poignantly evokes the cultural and historical grandeur of ancient Greece. The mention of "burning Sappho," a nod to the esteemed poetess known for her passionate verses, sets the tone of nostalgia and loss. Byron contrasts the vibrant past with present decay, highlighting Greece’s former glory where "the arts of war and peace" flourished. Delos, the mythological birthplace of Apollo (Phoebus), symbolizes divine inspiration and creativity. Yet, Byron mourns that modern Greece, though still bathed in "eternal summer," has lost its illustrious spirit. The "sun" remains, but the cultural brilliance has faded, invoking a sense of yearning and melancholy for a civilization now in decline. Byron's lamentation reflects broader Romantic themes, celebrating the sublime past while critiquing contemporary decline.