Week 3: Reading Diary--Ovid's Metamorphoses I

Since I enjoy reading Ovid's mythology so much, I decided to go back to the beginning of the Metamorphoses and read some of the earlier tales (from Ovid's Metamorphoses, Books 1-4).  Let's review some more Greco-Roman stories!!

 (Deucalion and Pyrrha Praying, oil painting by Tintoretto, c. 1542.  Wikimedia.)

1.  Deucalion and Pyrrha-  Here we have the quintessential flood story that can be found throughout various mythologies and religious histories.  (Which in itself raises all sorts of questions, but there is not enough room in this post to expand on my fascination.)  I translated this story from the Latin last semester, and there is simply so much meaning and depth and various double meanings enclosed in the text, as well as this overwhelming feeling of hopelessness and desperation.  And here you have a great example of the uncertainty and vague meanings of prophecies/directions given by gods.  A great story, indeed.

2.  Io-  Here we see one of many stories revolving around Jupiter's dalliances and Juno's revenge, leading to the unfortunate demise of an unlucky, beautiful, young girl.  You almost feel bad for Jupiter's dilemma, but not really.  He's basically a lustful idiot who gets caught red-handed.  (There is also an interesting etiological anecdote here about the creation of the peacock's tail which I really love.)

(The Fall of Phaeton, painting by Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1604.  Wikipedia.)

3-5.  Phaethon- This is basically the tale of a reckless and bold young boy who decides he is indestructible and wants to drive Phoebus' chariot of the sun--which of course results in Phaethon's death and nearly results in the destruction of the earth and the heavens.  Boys and their toys. . .

6.  Callisto-  Here we have another story of Jupiter's transgressions.  This time the girl he rapes is one who was a companion of Diana--possibly my favorite Roman goddess.  Meanwhile, I often wonder how the Romans could have any respect for a god who employs various trickeries to cheat on his wife and rape innocent women.  And then of course you have Juno, who is rightfully outraged but always takes it out on the women instead of Jupiter.  Oh, antiquity!


I leave you here, and will continue on later tonight/tomorrow with more depressing tales missing the happily-ever-after element we are so fond of!

Buongiorno!