Week 3: Reading Diary--Ovid's Metamorphoses, Installment 4!

From Ovid's Metamorphoses, Books 1-4, we reach the conclusion of this segment of enthralling Greco-Roman mythology in this week's second installment!  Let's get to it!!

7.  Semele-  Oh, jealous, vindictive, and violent Juno!  Tricking poor Semele into asking to see Jupiter's true form and thus leading Semele to be consumed by Jupiter's fire.  I also kind of feel bad for Jupiter, as he strikes down his lover unwillingly--until I remember that he had an affair with Semele, and really I should feel bad for Jupiter rather than the adulterous couple. . .

(Echo and Narcissus, painting by John William Waterhouse, 1903.  Wikipedia.)

8-9.  Echo and Narcissus-  Poor Echo.  Lost her voice 'cause she helped her friends have affairs with Jupiter behind Juno's back.  (I mean, really, can you blame Juno for her wrath here?)  And the worst part is that Echo is clever, and Narcissus is just an arrogant, selfish jerk.  He deserves what's coming to him.  Though wasting away as you stare at yourself can't be the worst end, if Narcissus really is as beautiful/handsome as they come.  And this is definitely a twist on the whole unrequited love story, when the person who cannot return the love is yourself.  Plus, there are many worse fates than being turned into a pretty yellow flower.

(Pyramus and Thisbe, painting by Pierre Gautherot, 1799.  Wikimedia.)

10.  Pyramus and Thisbe-  Thisbe, Thisbe, wherefore art thou Thisbe!  Oh, the tales of star-crossed lovers committing suicide in the night!  Here we have another tale of forbidden love, this time aided by a crack in the wall and ended by a playful but bloody lion.  And of course in Romeo and Juliet you don't have a fountain of blood turning the fruit of a mulberry tree red, but Shakespeare can't have all the romance, now can he?

11.  Mars and Venus-  I guess there is definitely humor in finding two gods bound together shamefully in bed, but then you think of poor Vulcan who must have been heartbroken and this is a much less amusing tale. . .

12 -13.  Perseus (Andromeda and Medusa)-  I never really understood everybody's fascination with Perseus.  He's kind of an a** if you know what I mean.  He just assumes things are his, kills any "monster" or enemy in his way, and leaves a trail of "allies" and lovers behind him.  Sometimes I feel like cheering against Perseus, even though I know how the stories end.

I'm running a little short on time, so ciao!!