Amores: elegías amatorias

by Ovid

"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.