Author
Ovid
-43-17
Ovid (-43-17) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
WikipediaSubjects
Books by Ovid
The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books I-VII
"The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books I-VII" by Ovid is a Latin narrative poem written in 8 CE. This masterwork chronicles the history of the world from creation to Julius Caesar's deification through over 250 transformation myths. Spanning themes from divine comedy to vengeful gods and passionate love, the poem defies simple classification as it shifts between tones and stories. With gods humiliated by Cupid and mortals elevated above the divine, Ovid inverts the expected order, making transformation itself the constant in a world where nothing remains unchanged.
Ars Amatoria; or, The Art Of Love Literally Translated into English Prose, with Copious Notes
"Ars Amatoria; or, The Art Of Love" by Ovid is an instructional elegy written in 2 AD. This three-book guide offers Romans practical advice on romance: men learn where to find women and how to keep them, while women discover strategies for winning and maintaining love. Written in elegant couplets and filled with mythology and everyday observations, Ovid's playful manual became so influential that medieval scholars dubbed the entire era the "Ovidian epoch," treating his tongue-in-cheek instructions as serious academic philosophy for centuries.
The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV
"The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV" by Ovid is a Latin narrative poem written in 8 CE. This second half of Ovid's magnum opus continues his chronicle of transformation myths within a sweeping mythico-historical framework. Through over 250 interconnected tales told in dactylic hexameter, the poem defies simple classification, blending epic grandeur with playful subversion. Love—both divine and mortal—remains the driving force, as gods are humiliated by passion and humans elevated through their transformations, creating an inverted cosmos where desire confounds reason and permanence dissolves into endless change.
The Amores; or, Amours Literally Translated into English Prose, with Copious Notes
"The Amores; or, Amours" by Ovid is a collection of elegiac poems written in the late 1st century BC. This work delves into themes of love, desire, and the complexities of romantic relationships, often with a humorous and playful tone. The poet, addressing his beloved Corinna, navigates through various scenarios of love and longing, showcasing both the joys and sorrows that come with such deep emotional entanglements. The opening of this collection sets the stage for Ovid's exploration of love's trials, starting with an epigram that suggests a shift in focus from epic battles to personal love stories. The poet humorously laments the overpowering influence of Cupid, who compels him to abandon his ambitious themes of warfare for the gentler subject of romance. As he pleads to love, Ovid reveals his passion and vulnerability, establishing a tone filled with yearning and introspection. Throughout this introduction, he intersperses moments of wit and wisdom about the nature of affection, indicating that the poems to follow will weave a rich tapestry of romantic experiences, adorned with both victory and despair.
The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidus Naso in English blank verse Vols. I & II
"The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidus Naso in English Blank Verse Vols. I & II" translated by J.J. Howard is a poetic epic translation of Ovid's classic work, likely written in the early 19th century. This ambitious collection explores themes of transformation and mythological tales, encapsulating the divine interactions and events that change characters and the world around them. With numerous transformations at its core, it reflects on human nature, love, and the whims of the gods. At the start of this translation, the narrative unfolds with Ovid invoking the muses to aid him in telling the tales of transformation from the chaotic origins of the universe through the ages of mankind. The text describes the creation of the world and the subsequent ages—golden, silver, bronze, and iron—each marked by a decline in morality and virtue. As the narrative progresses, it introduces pivotal characters and events, such as Deucalion and Pyrrha's survival of a great flood and the birth of various mythological figures, setting the stage for the richly woven tales of love and tragedy that follow. Through lush imagery and rhythmic verse, the opening captures the epic's essence as a tapestry of myth intertwined with the human experience.
Fasti
"Fasti" by Ovid is a six-book Latin poem written in AD 8. Through the voice of a poet-prophet, Ovid presents an ambitious calendar of Roman religion, documenting festivals, rituals, and their mythological origins for the first six months of the year. Left incomplete when the poet was exiled, this elegiac work blends divine interviews, multiple origin stories, and astronomical observations to preserve ancient religious traditions. Drawing on Greek and Roman poetic traditions, it offers a unique window into Roman religious practices and beliefs.
El arte de amar
"El arte de amar" by Ovid is an instructional elegy series written in 2 AD. This three-book guide offers advice on the art of romance: how men can find and keep a woman, and how women can win and maintain a man's love. Written in elegiac couplets and filled with Greek mythology and Roman life details, the work became wildly popular yet controversial. Its playful instructions influenced medieval literature so profoundly that scholars called the era "the Ovidian epoch," transforming love itself into an academic subject studied for centuries.
The Last Poems of Ovid
"The Last Poems of Ovid" by Mark Bear Akrigg is a scholarly edition and commentary of the fourth book of the "Epistulae ex Ponto," a collection of poetry written by the renowned Roman poet Ovid. This edition, which signifies ongoing interest in classical literature, was published in the early 21st century but revisits works originally composed during Ovid's exile in the early days of the Roman Empire. The book sheds light on Ovid's reflections and correspondence during a tumultuous period, offering insights into both his personal struggles and the social context of his time. The opening of this edition outlines the context of Ovid's exile, which began in AD 8 when he was banished from Rome to Tomis. Akrigg introduces the significance of the fourth book of the "Epistulae ex Ponto" as a work composed at a time when Ovid grappled with the repercussions of his past while continuing to produce poetry. He specifically discusses the structure and themes of the poems, highlighting how Ovid sought to maintain his poetic identity while addressing various addressees, from influential political figures like Sextus Pompeius to fellow poets. The edition emphasizes the personal nature of Ovid’s letters, revealing a mix of lamentation and artistic expression that characterizes this late stage of his career.
Remedia Amoris; or, The Remedy of Love Literally Translated into English Prose, with Copious Notes
"Remedia Amoris; or, The Remedy of Love" by Ovid is an 814-line poem written around 2 AD. This companion piece to "The Art of Love" offers practical advice for escaping unhappy romantic entanglements. Ovid guides both men and women through strategies to fall out of love and avoid emotional bondage, suggesting techniques like staying busy, traveling, and focusing on a lover's flaws. Written with stoic undertones, this didactic work aims to help readers sidestep the tragic fates of legendary figures like Dido and Medea.
Metamorfóseos o Transformaciones (1 de 4)
"Metamorfóseos o Transformaciones (1 de 4)" by Ovid is a Latin narrative poem written in 8 CE. This sprawling work chronicles world history from creation to Julius Caesar's deification through over 250 interconnected myths of transformation. Blending epic scope with shifting tones and genres, the poem elevates human passions while making gods—especially Apollo—objects of ridicule through the confounding power of love. Ovid's magnum opus defies simple classification, creating a mythological landscape that has profoundly influenced Western literature and art for two millennia.
Metamorfóseos o Transformaciones (3 de 4)
"Metamorfóseos o Transformaciones (3 de 4)" by Ovid is a Latin narrative poem written in 8 CE. This section is part of Ovid's magnum opus chronicling world history from creation to Julius Caesar's deification through over 250 interconnected myths. Gods fall victim to love's irrational power while humans rise in importance, inverting traditional divine order. The work defies simple classification, blending epic, elegy, tragedy, and pastoral modes as it leaps between transformation tales united by the recurring theme of love's confounding force.
Metamorfóseos o Transformaciones (4 de 4)
"Metamorfóseos o Transformaciones (4 de 4)" by Ovid is a Latin narrative poem from 8 CE. This monumental work chronicles world history from creation to Julius Caesar's deification through over 250 interconnected myths across 15 books. Defying simple classification, it blends epic storytelling with varied tones and themes, centering on transformation and love's power. The poem inverts divine order, elevating human passions while rendering gods ridiculous through Amor's influence. One of Western culture's most influential works, it has inspired countless artists, writers, and composers for centuries.
Metamorfóseos o Transformaciones (2 de 4)
"Metamorfóseos o Transformaciones (2 de 4)" by Ovid is a Latin narrative poem written in 8 CE. This second volume of Ovid's magnum opus chronicles the history of the world through over 250 interconnected myths involving transformations. The poem defies simple classification, blending epic grandeur with various literary tones while exploring themes of love, divine folly, and human passion. Gods are ridiculed and confounded by Amor, while mortals take center stage in this playful inversion of the accepted cosmic order.
Amores: elegías amatorias
"Amores: elegías amatorias" by Ovid is a collection of elegiac poetry first published in 16 BC. This playful work chronicles a poet's pursuit of Corinna, an unattainable upper-class woman who may be entirely fictional. Through three books of elegies, Ovid subverts and exaggerates traditional Roman love poetry conventions to absurd effect, blending humor with romance. He compares lovers to soldiers, laments dyed hair, negotiates with doorkeepers, and celebrates poetry itself—all while questioning whether his passionate verses document real desire or simply showcase his mastery of the erotic elegy genre.