Ovid's Metamorphoses: a mythical universe

9 important questions on Ovid's Metamorphoses: a mythical universe

What can broadly be said about the contents of Ovid's Metamorphoses?

They basically consisted of three parts:
1. cosmic (beginning of the universe)
2. mythologic (struggles between gods and humans)
3. historic (actual Roman history)
These three parts correlate to three types of epic (a long poem in hexameters).
To write this, Ovid was inspired by ancient writers like Homer, Apollonius Rhodius and Virgil.

What was the target audience of the Metamorphoses?

A learned audience. They were expected to already know many stories which were only briefly alluded to in other tales, know many names (places, heroes, astronomical names, etc.) and understand many references (because the gods are often referred to by anything but their own name).

How do the Metamorphoses tie into the network of stories?

The Metamorphoses are told chronologically, but they contain many embedded stories (like when the Muses tell the story of Calliope who told the story of Arethusa, etc.). In other words, this book basically bundles many far older stories and adds something new to them.
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Why are metamorphoses so important to myth?

Because they often tell the origin stories of certain objects or places, or even of how the first human being came into existence. In other words, they explain why the world is as it is.

Which moment in a metamorphosus do artists usually depict?

The actual metamorphoses/climax. If the metamorphosus isn't the climax, it often gets merged WITH the climax (Actaeon turning into a deer as his dogs kill him).

In which cases have metamorphoses been used as metaphors?

- Lycaon (whose name means wolf) turned into a wolf because his behavior was wolf-like.
- The stones Deucalion and Pyrrha threw, turned into a race of hardy (stonelike) people.
- Daphne, whose name means "laurel" actually served as a laurel or prize to be won herself.
- Actaeon: the stag hunter becomes the stag.
- Narcissus: the beautiful man turns into a beautiful spring flower.

What was the metamorphosis of Julius Caesar supposed to mean?

It is an example of a short-lived catasterismos (change into a star) because he become a comet; very bright, yet burning up very fast. He did become a god afterwards, though, which was permanent (at least to the people).

What does Pythagoras teach?

That everything is transient and in constant flux, so we better beware. For example, it would make sense to become a vegetarian, because you might come back as an animal yourself in another life. Also, nothing lasts forever, and neither will a great empire like Rome.

How are metamorphoses used in the story of Minerva and Arachne?

- Minerva's tapestry was hierarchical, honoured the gods and showed what would happen to those who disrespected them.
- Arachne's tapestry was in catalogue form and showed the gods in short-lived metamorphoses raping women and boys.
Although Arachne's tapestry was perfect, Minerva destroyed it because it undermined the power of the gods and made them look bad. Then she felt bad and turned Arachne into a spider. This can be seen as a hint to power leading to abuse, just like how Ovid was exiled because August didn't like his work.

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