Ovid: A Comprehensive Overview | Very Short Introductions | Very Short Introductions

Publius Ovidius Naso, known simply as Ovid, was one of the most significant poets of the Augustan era in ancient Rome. His works, particularly the Metamorphoses and Ars Amatoria, have had a profound impact on Western literature and culture.

Ovid: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

by Llewelyn Morgan

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1922 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	144 pages
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Ovid's Life

Ovid was born in Sulmo, a small town in central Italy, in 43 BC. His family was wealthy and well-connected, and he received a privileged education in Rome. He studied rhetoric and poetry, and he quickly gained a reputation as a talented writer. In 25 BC, he published his first work, Amores, a collection of love poems. The Amores was a critical and commercial success, and it established Ovid as one of the leading poets of his generation.

In the years that followed, Ovid published a number of other works, including the Heroides, a collection of love letters written by mythical heroines; the Ars Amatoria, a guide to the art of love; and the Metamorphoses, his masterpiece. The Metamorphoses is a long poem that tells the stories of over 250 different mythological transformations. It is Ovid's most famous work, and it has been translated into dozens of languages.

In 8 AD, Ovid was exiled from Rome by the emperor Augustus. The reasons for his exile are unknown, but it may have been due to his association with the emperor's granddaughter, Julia the Younger. Ovid spent the rest of his life in exile in Tomis, a remote town on the Black Sea. He died in Tomis in 17 AD.

Ovid's Works

Ovid's works are characterized by their wit, humor, and elegance. He was a master of the elegiac couplet, and he used it to great effect in his love poems. He was also a gifted storyteller, and his Metamorphoses is one of the most beloved works of ancient literature.

Ovid's works have had a profound impact on Western literature and culture. They have been translated into dozens of languages, and they have been adapted into plays, operas, and ballets. Ovid's influence can be seen in the works of countless writers, including Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, and Goethe.

Ovid's Legacy

Ovid is one of the most important poets in Western literature. His works have entertained and educated readers for centuries, and they have helped to shape our understanding of the world. Ovid was a master of language, and his works are a testament to the power of poetry.

Further Reading

• Ovid by John Henderson (2002)
• The Cambridge Companion to Ovid edited by Philip Hardie (2002)
• Ovid's Metamorphoses translated by David Raeburn (2004)

Image Credits

• Bust of Ovid by an unknown artist, c. 1st century AD. From the Uffizi Gallery, Florence.
• A page from a 15th-century manuscript of Ovid's Metamorphoses. From the British Library, London.

Ovid: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

by Llewelyn Morgan

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1922 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	144 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE