BCE – Before Christian Era

The theme today is Irony.

Ovid is one of antiquity’s most ironic poets, using humor, contrast, reversal, and understatement to create tension between appearance and reality, expectation and outcome. Unlike Homer’s straightforward heroism or Vergil’s solemn grandeur, Ovid often undermines traditional myths, exposing human folly, divine capriciousness, and the instability of identity and fate.

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### 1. The Irony of Midas

• 11.89–204 Midas
  Midas, wishing for limitless wealth, is granted the power to turn everything he touches into gold—including his food and daughter. Later, he judges Pan a better musician than Apollo and is punished with donkey ears.

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### 2. Additional Passages from Metamorphoses

• Phaethon’s Ride (Book 2.1–356) – The irony of divine favor and of a god locked in by an oath.
• Pentheus (Book 3.553–806) – A warrior rejects the Bacchic rites whereupon his mother is driven into a Bacchic frenzy and dismembers him with her bare hands, thinking he is a boar.
• Actaeon (Book 3:217-240) – The Catalogue of Dogs. Compare with Homer’s The Catalogue of Ships (Iliad 2.494–759) and the Hesiodic, The Catalogue of Women
• Narcissus and Echo (Book 3.432–552) – Narcissus, who rejects all lovers, becomes a victim of unrequited self-love.
• Myrrha’s Incestuous Love (Book 10.325–566) – Love Becomes a Curse
• The Debate of Ajax and Ulysses (Book 13.1–430)
• Ovid’s Description of the God of Sleep (Book 11.637–697)

### 3. Artistic Reflections on Irony

• Renaissance Art: The Flaying of Marsyas by Titian (1570s)
• The contrast between Apollo’s calmness and Marsyas’s suffering heightens the ironic cruelty of divine punishment.
• Post-1800 Art: The Golden Touch by Thomas Waterman Wood (1880s)
• Depicts Midas in despair, unable to eat his own golden food, highlighting the ironic cost of greed.

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### 4. Musical Works

• Igor Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex (1927)
• Based on the greatest ironic tragedy—Oedipus seeks to avoid his fate, yet ensures it.
• "Stravinsky called Oedipus Rex an “opera-oratorio” and instructed that it be staged with minimal movement; the principal singers are to wear masks. Crucial to the work’s aesthetic was the decision to set a Latin text - a choice, Stravinsky wrote, with “the great advantage of giving me a medium not dead but turned to stone and so monumentalized as to have become immune from all risk of vulgarization.” The impersonal grandeur of Stravinsky’s retelling is signaled by the opening chorus. At the same time, Oedipus’ downfall is vividly delineated by the gradual defoliation of his vocal line. The musical trajectory - a throbbing engine of fate - is as undeflectable as the drama. Despite Stravinsky’s principles and pronouncements - that music “is powerless to express anything at all” - the opera culminates in catharsis. Sophocles’ great tale of submission to fate resonates with Stravinsky’s religious sensibility: of submission to God."
• Semele (1744) is a 'musical drama by George Frideric Handel.
• Semele is the mother of Dionysus/Bacchus/Liber. (Myth of Pentheus)

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### 5. Poem

• The Ovide Moralisé (c. 1316–1328)
• About the work: A substantial French poem that translates and “Christianizes” Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Each myth is followed by a moral or allegorical commentary, reframing pagan transformations through a medieval Christian lens.
• Ovidian influence & irony: The entire text is explicitly based on the Metamorphoses. The ironic element comes from the juxtaposition of pagan stories—rich in erotic and often violent transformations—forced into pious Christian allegory. The poet’s attempts to extract moral lessons out of, say, the tale of Narcissus or Jupiter’s many seductions can strike modern readers as both fascinating and inadvertently humorous.

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### 6. Pantone Color

• Pantone 14-0955 Golden Glow
• A color that represents wealth and power, yet also foolish excess and unintended consequences.

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### 7. Fragrance

• Jo Malone’s Mimosa & Cardamom
• A scent that seems simple at first but evolves unexpectedly, like many of Ovid’s ironic reversals.

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### 8. Tree

• Fig Tree
• The Fig Tree carries a dual symbolism,(Buddha vs Judas) deceptive nature (the wasp!), and historical irony in mythology and culture.

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### 9. Country

• France
• Known for wit, satire, and irony in literature (Voltaire’s Candide, Molière’s comedies), much like Ovid’s tone in Metamorphoses.

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### 10. The USA Fit

• American Satire and Irony in Politics
• Figures like Mark Twain, The Onion, and The Daily Show reflect Ovid’s tradition of irony and mockery of power.

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### 11. Greek and Roman Influences on Irony

1. Homer’s Odyssey (Hermes helps Odysseus deceive others)
2. Aristophanes’ Lysistrata (using humor to critique war)
3. Plato’s Gorgias (Socrates exposing rhetorical irony)
4. Seneca’s Thyestes (revenge, irony, and fate)
5. Juvenal’s Satires (mocking Roman society, much like Ovid)

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### 12. Nut

• Cashew
• Looks like a nut but is actually a seed, symbolizing things not being what they seem—just like many of Ovid’s ironic transformations.

*****
We're using a new translation of this wide ranging masterpiece that covers the history of the world, from its creation to the deification of Julius Caesar in 42 BC in a mythico-historical framework comprising over 250 myths, 15 books, and 11,995 lines. The translation is by Stephanie McCarter, a Classics professor at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee: Metamorphoses (A Penguin Classics) – Published November 8, 2022.

This will take us well into 2025. BCE read the Metamorphoses before in 2020/2021.

A Latin text is online at https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3atext%3a1999.02.0029 (Hugo Magnus. Gotha (Germany). Friedr. Andr. Perthes. 1892).

The theme today is Death and Dying, and Afterlife

This session, we explore themes of death, reincarnation, the soul, and the afterlife in Metamorphoses. Ovid's epic frequently reflects on the impermanence of life, the transformation of the soul, and the enduring journey beyond death. Through tales of characters who are reborn, transformed, or journey to the underworld, Ovid offers a complex meditation on mortality, legacy, and the possibility of eternal life. This theme allows us to engage with the poem’s philosophical reflections on what remains after death and how memory, transformation, and the soul endure beyond mortal life.

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#### 1. Theme Introduction: Life Beyond Death and the Transformation of the Soul

· Death as Transition and Transformation
In Ovid’s stories, death is often not the end but a passage into another form. The soul may be reborn in another guise or preserved in nature, linking themes of reincarnation and eternal memory. Ovid reflects on the soul's journey, the fate of the body, and the possibilities of existence beyond death, often leaving open-ended questions about human legacy and divine influence.
· The Afterlife and Divine Judgment
Ovid's portrayal of death includes both traditional underworld journeys and symbolic transformations, where characters are judged, punished, or rewarded in ways that carry meaning into eternity. Through these stories, Ovid examines ideas of fate, justice, and the soul’s immortality, blending Roman, Greek, and philosophical perspectives on life after death.

#### 2. Passages for Discussion

· 10.1-92 — Orpheus and Eurydice
Orpheus travels to the underworld to bring back his wife Eurydice, only to lose her again.

· 11.39-69 — Death of Orpheus
When Orpheus dies, nature grieves.

· 5.364-611 — Pluto Kidnaps and Rapes Proserpina (Persephone)
Persephone’s abduction to the underworld by Pluto (Hades) highlights the divide between life and death, as well as the cyclical nature of her existence.

· 14.107-165 — Aeneas’ Descent to the Underworld, (The Sibyl and Apollo)
Aeneas journeys to the underworld.

· 7.168-314 — Medea’s Rejuvenation of Aeson
Medea uses her magic to restore her father Aeson’s youth, effectively reversing the natural progression of life and death.

· 15.793–932 — The Deification of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar is deified and ascends to the heavens, a transformation cementing his place in eternity.

· 15.933-942 — Ovid’s Final Words on His Own Immortality (Epilogue)
Ovid declares that his poetry will grant him eternal life, transcending the boundaries of death and time.

· 3. Artistic Reflections on Death, Reincarnation, and the Afterlife
· Renaissance Art: Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment (1536–1541)

• This monumental fresco captures themes of divine judgment and the afterlife, reflecting ideas of reward, punishment, and reincarnation, as souls are resurrected and evaluated in a powerful scene of mortality.

· Post-1800 Art: Gustav Klimt’s Death and Life (1910)

• This painting depicts death and the cycle of life, with vibrant figures representing life and a dark figure of death. It echoes the themes of mortality and the soul’s journey beyond life, similar to Ovid’s reflections on transformation and continuity.

#### 4. Musical Work

• Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. Matthew Passion (1727)
• This sacred oratorio reflects themes of death, resurrection, and eternal life, capturing the emotional depth and transcendence associated with the soul’s journey beyond mortality.

#### 5. Culinary Exploration: The Symbolic Last Meal

• Dish: Pomegranate Salad with Walnuts and Fennel
• Pomegranates, symbolizing Persephone and the cycle of life and death, are combined with walnuts, which represent wisdom and eternity. This dish captures the duality of life and death in Ovid’s narratives, reflecting themes of reincarnation and the soul’s continuation.

#### 6. Pantone Color

• Pantone 19-3810 Elderberry
• This deep, somber purple represents the mystery and depth associated with the afterlife, evoking the introspection and transcendence of death and rebirth.

#### 7. Fragrance

• Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin
• This fragrance, with notes of rose and dark spices, evokes the solemnity and beauty of death and transformation, reflecting the depth and mystery of the soul’s journey.

#### 8. Tree

• Yew Tree
• Symbolic of eternity and often associated with graveyards, the yew represents both life and death. It embodies the cyclical nature of existence, reflecting the themes of reincarnation and the soul’s endurance in Ovid’s narratives.

#### 9. Country

• Egypt
• With its rich mythology of the afterlife, reincarnation, and preservation of the soul, Egypt aligns with the theme of death and the soul’s journey beyond mortality, mirroring ideas explored in Ovid’s transformations.

#### 10. The USA Fit

• American Cultural Reflections on Legacy and the Afterlife
• From the American Dream’s notion of “leaving a legacy” to cultural interest in life after death and the technology of cryonics, American literature, art, and philosophy engage deeply with themes of mortality, reincarnation, and the soul’s journey. Ovid’s reflections on these themes resonate with the American fascination for immortality, whether through personal legacy or belief in an afterlife.

#### 11. Gods Associated with Death, the Soul, and the Afterlife

• Pluto/Hades (god of the underworld and ruler of the dead)

o Homeric Passages:

• Odyssey 11.1-50 (Odysseus’ journey to the underworld).
• Iliad 23.62-107 (Patroclus’ soul in the afterlife).
• Homeric Hymn to Demeter (Persephone’s journey to the underworld).

#### 12. Sources and Influences

• Greek and Roman Beliefs on the Afterlife:

Ovid draws on the Greek underworld myths and Roman beliefs in the immortality of the soul, incorporating these views into his depictions of transformation, apotheosis, and reincarnation. The cyclical aspect of life and death resonates with both philosophical and mythological perspectives from the ancient world.

#### 13. Nut

• Pine Nut
• Symbolic of eternity and endurance, pine nuts represent the resilience and continuation

*****
We're using a new translation of this wide ranging masterpiece that covers the history of the world, from its creation to the deification of Julius Caesar in 42 BC in a mythico-historical framework comprising over 250 myths, 15 books, and 11,995 lines. The translation is by Stephanie McCarter, a Classics professor at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee: Metamorphoses (A Penguin Classics) – Published November 8, 2022.

This will take us well into 2025. BCE read the Metamorphoses before in 2020/2021.

A Latin text is online at https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3atext%3a1999.02.0029 (Hugo Magnus. Gotha (Germany). Friedr. Andr. Perthes. 1892).

The theme today is Gender and Identity.

In this session, we’ll explore how Metamorphoses engages with complex questions of gender and identity, revealing Ovid’s nuanced portrayals of fluidity in both personal and societal identities. Ovid challenges traditional gender roles through transformations, cross-gender desires, and ambiguous portrayals of gods and mortals. We encourage ourselves to reflect on how these ancient stories resonate with modern ideas about gender, fluidity, and self-definition.

1. Theme Introduction: Gender as Fluid and Transformable

· Gender and Transformation in Metamorphoses
In Metamorphoses, gender is often fluid, with characters undergoing transformations that alter their sex, identity, and societal roles. Ovid explores how physical transformation influences personal identity, blurring the lines between traditionally defined gender roles. Stories such as those of Iphis, Caenis, and Hermaphroditus illustrate themes of identity and societal expectations.

· Self-Identity and Divine Power
Ovid’s gods often shape human identity by force, which can complicate or liberate personal identities. Characters frequently find themselves trapped between divine power and personal will, raising questions about autonomy and self-identity.

2. Key Passages for Discussion

· 4.295-422 — The Story of Hermaphroditus and Salmacis
Hermaphroditus, the child of Hermes and Aphrodite, is fused with the nymph Salmacis, becoming both male and female.

· 9.720-873 — The Story of Iphis and Ianthe
Iphis, born female, is raised as a boy and ultimately transformed into a male by the goddess Isis to marry her beloved, Ianthe. One of Ovid’s most Sapphic stories

· 12.204-227 — Neptune Rapes Caenis/Caeneus
Caenis, a woman, is transformed into the invulnerable warrior Caeneus after wishing to become male.

· 10. 567–610 — Venus and Adonis
Venus’ infatuation with the mortal Adonis subverts traditional gender expectations by casting a goddess as the active pursuer.

· 10.263–324 — Pygmalion and His Statue
Pygmalion creates an idealized female statue, which Venus brings to life.

3. Artistic Reflections on Gender and Identity
· Renaissance Art: Titian’s Venus and Adonis (1554)

• This painting portrays Venus as both goddess and lover, exploring the dynamics of female desire and identity outside traditional roles.

· Omphale and Hercules. Omphale was a queen or princess of Lydia. As penalty for a murder, Hercules was to serve as a slave of Omphale, a queen of Lydia. He was forced to do women's work and to wear women's clothing, while she wore the skin of a lion and carried his olive-wood club. The gender bending relationship, unfortunately not explored in Ovid's Metamorphoses, was portrayed in Western art by many painters, such as Hans Cranach (1513-1537) and Gustave-Claude-Etienne Courtois (1852–1923),

· Post-1800 Art: Claude Cahun’s Self-Portrait (1928)

• Cahun’s photograph represents gender ambiguity, challenging fixed identities and reflecting themes similar to those in Ovid’s stories of transformation.

4. Musical and Literary Work

• Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw (1954)
• This opera explores themes of identity, ambiguity, and gender roles. Although not directly inspired by Metamorphoses, its eerie, questioning tone resonates with Ovid’s exploration of personal identity and transformation.
• Virginia Woolf’s Orlando (1954)
• Orlando is both man and woman at the same time but appears as one or the other at any particular moment. “Spanning three centuries, the novel opens as Orlando, a young nobleman in Elizabeth's England, awaits a visit from the Queen and traces his experience with first love as England under James I lies locked in the embrace of the Great Frost. At the midpoint of the novel, Orlando, now an ambassador in Constantinople, awakes to find that he is now a woman, and the novel indulges in farce and irony to consider the roles of women in the 18th and 19th centuries. As the novel ends in 1928, a year consonant with full suffrage for women. Orlando, now a wife and mother, stands poised at the brink of a future that holds new hope and promise for women.”

5. Culinary Exploration: Androgynous Fusion Dishes

• Dish: Surf and Turf with Seasonal Vegetables
• A dish blending both land and sea ingredients symbolizes the fusion of identities and the breaking of boundaries, much like the characters in Ovid’s stories who embody both masculine and feminine traits or transcend traditional roles.

6. Pantone Color

• Pantone 16-2124 Pink Lavender
• This delicate blend of pink and lavender symbolizes the fusion of traditionally feminine and masculine traits, representing gender fluidity and versatility.

7. Fragrance

• Tom Ford’s Violet Blonde (2011)
• This fragrance combines floral and woody notes, balancing masculine and feminine elements, much like Ovid’s stories of fluid identities.

8. Tree

• Olive Tree
• Symbolic of peace and endurance, the olive tree represents both adaptability and resilience, qualities central to the transformed identities in Ovid’s narratives.

9. Country

• India
• India’s diverse cultural heritage, esp. Hinduism, includes traditional and contemporary stories and perspectives on gender fluidity, making it a fitting country for this theme.

10. The USA Fit

• Gender Identity and Fluidity in American Culture
• Ovid’s stories of fluid gender roles and transformations resonate with ongoing discussions about gender identity in the U.S. From the LGBTQ+ rights movement to modern conversations on gender fluidity, America is actively engaging with themes Ovid explored, underscoring the lasting relevance of these narratives.

11. Gods Associated with Gender and Identity

• Venus/Aphrodite (goddess of love and desire, often breaking traditional female roles)

o Homeric Passages:

• Iliad 5.312-317 (Aphrodite wounded in battle).
• Iliad 3.396-413 (Aphrodite’s intervention in Helen’s life).
• Odyssey 8.266-366 (Aphrodite and Ares).
• Iliad 14.188-224 (Aphrodite’s charm on Zeus).
• Iliad 5.370-430 (Aphrodite aids Aeneas).

12. Sources and Influences

• Gender in Classical Mythology:

Ovid’s depictions of gender transformation and fluid identity draw from stories in earlier Greek mythology, including Apollodorus and versions in Homeric Hymns.

• Social Context of Rome:

Roman society had rigid gender roles, but Ovid’s narratives playfully challenge these norms, sometimes subverting or expanding them through mythological transformations.

*****
We're using a new translation of this wide ranging masterpiece that covers the history of the world, from its creation to the deification of Julius Caesar in 42 BC in a mythico-historical framework comprising over 250 myths, 15 books, and 11,995 lines. The translation is by Stephanie McCarter, a Classics professor at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee: Metamorphoses (A Penguin Classics) – Published November 8, 2022.

This will take us well into 2025. BCE read the Metamorphoses before in 2020/2021.

A Latin text is online at https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3atext%3a1999.02.0029 (Hugo Magnus. Gotha (Germany). Friedr. Andr. Perthes. 1892).