Ovid's Metamorphoses
Session 6:
Session 5:
Session 4:
Session 3:
Session 2:
Session 1:
Overview and Schedule
Dr. Allen J. Romano
aromano@fsu.edu
Associate Teaching Professor, Program in Interdisciplinary Humanities
Description
Ovid's Metamorphoses is one of the most popular, enduring, and entertaining works of classical antiquity, among the most imitated poems in the Middle Ages, and a primary source for classical myth today. Chances are that if you've heard a “Greek” myth, you actually know the version by the Roman poet Ovid (43 BC – 17/18 CE). In this course we'll explore Ovid's poetic myth-making, what the poem reveals about the Roman take on Greek myths, and Ovid's special place in the pantheon of Latin poets.
Class website
For class extras and things to explore in relation to all the topics we discuss, I have set up a website for us (This website!) at https://write.as/ajr/olli-ovid
The Class
When: Wednesdays, 2:30 to 4:30 PM Where: The comfort of your home, via Zoom
For each class we'll take at least one break at the halfway point.
Zoom Zoom
You will receive an email reminder of the zoom link the morning of our first meeting date.
Schedule
| Date | Topic | (OPTIONAL) Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 10/7 | Ovid Today, Aetas Ovidiana, Ancient Ovid | None |
| 10/14 | Creation and the Gods | Metamorphoses books 1 to 3 |
| 10/21 | The First Heroes | Met. 4 to 6 |
| 10/28 | To Athens | Met. 7 to 9 |
| 11/4 | Love and Loss | Met. 10 to 12 |
| 11/11 | NO CLASS | |
| 11/18 | Trojans and Romans | Met. 13 to 15 |
Recordings
I will record the view of my camera (that is, just me; not the zoom session as a whole) in the event that anyone has technical difficulties getting on or has to miss a session. I will make this available to members of the class for the duration of the OLLI semester.
Translations
We will proceed at roughly three books (in modern parlance, “chapters”) per week starting with the second class meeting. As this is an OLLI course, readings are completely optional.
For those who want to read the poem over the course of our 6 class meetings, here are some recommendations:
You are welcome to use any modern translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses. Below are some recommendations, depending on what you want in a translation. Note that links below are not endorsements; they are simply convenient pointers to the book. All of these books can be found from multiple retailers in both used and new copies.
I will refer to and use Metamorphoses: The New Annotated Edition (2018), translated by Rolfe Humphries with notes by Joseph Reed. ISBN 978-0253033598 https://www.amazon.com/Metamorphoses-New-Annotated-Ovid/dp/0253033594 This edition is useful if you would like a fairly straightforward translation with a reasonable number of scholarly notes for context. The translation is a bit older (from 1958) but the notes are the most up to date.
The Mandelbaum translation is a good poetic option for those who want something with a bit more style. https://www.amazon.com/Ovid-Allen-Mandelbaum-transl-Metamorphoses/dp/B00N4FAYGI/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=mandelbaum+ovid&qid=1601671993&s=books&sr=1-2
Another solid option is Charles Martin, https://www.amazon.com/Metamorphoses-New-Translation-Ovid/dp/039332642X/
As a general note of caution, stay away from free internet editions of translations from the late 19th or earliest 20th century unless you are particularly interested in antiquated English verse.
That said, of the free ones out there on the interwebs, if you don't mind reading off the screen, the translation at https://www.theoi.com/Text/OvidMetamorphoses1.html will work in an emergency situation.
It is also likely that there are free versions on the kindle or nook store that are of roughly the same vintage. Just keep in mind that if it sounds particularly formal or antiquated, then that is a feature of the translation more than of Ovid's style.