Ovid

Ovid is one of the most highly acclaimed Roman poets. He was born in Sulmo, Italy in 43 BC and lived there until his death in 17 AD. Ovid is known for his Metamorphoses, a fifteen-book poem that chronicles the transformation of figures both human and divine. His other works include the Heroides, Amores, and Ars Amatoria. He is also responsible for introducing Latin literature to the Roman Empire and is often referred to as one of the fathers of Roman literature.

Ovid was educated at a local school in Sulmo and later at a secondary school in Rome. At the secondary school, he studied literature and philosophy. Despite his intellectual talents, it took many years before he became a professional poet. His first published work was a series of works called Fasti, which were a collection of stories chronicling the religious and mythological events from the roman calendar. This was followed by The Metamorphoses, and became one of his most famous works.

The Metamorphoses is an epic poem and consists of fifteen books. The poem tells the stories of transformation of characters and objects in Greek and Roman mythology. Some of the myths contained in the poem include tales from Greek mythology such as the myth of Daphne and Apollo, Pygmalion and Galatea, the story of cupid and Psyche, and the myth of Perseus and Medusa. Ovid also retells historical stories from the Roman perspective, such as a story about the founding of Rome. Throughout the poem many of the myths are tied together through a common theme, the effect of metamorphosis on humans.

The Heroides is a collection of fifteen epistolary poems. In these poems, Ovid retells stories of mythological women writing letters to their missing lovers. This collection included letters sent by figures such as Penelope to Odysseus and Dido to Aeneas. Through the use of these letters, Ovid was able to explore relationships between the sexes, sexual desire, and infidelity.

The Amores is a series of love poems dedicated to Corinna, a woman who Ovid was having an affair with. The poems are filled with passion and desire and Ovid does not hold back in expressing his feelings. He includes vivid descriptions of desire and physical beauty, as well as metaphors to portray the pleasure and intensity of love.

The Ars Amatoria is a three-book series of poems dedicated to love and seduction. In the first book, Ovid provides instruction on how to court and seduce women. He also provides advice on how to persuade her to marry him. The second book focuses on married love and the duties of being a husband and the third book focuses on infidelity and leads the reader on a journey through the underworld.

Throughout his lifetime, Ovid had become one of Rome's greatest poets. His works have been ever-present in the annals of Roman literature, with many of his works still read and studied today. A man of intelligence and wit, Ovid created many works that have had a lasting effect on the world of literature.