Week 3 Reading Diary A: Ovid's Metamorphoses

Image information: Phaethon's ride: Source: Mythology Study Guide

            I chose to focus on Ovid’s Metamorphoses for this weeks reading unit. Not only is Greek/Roman mythology extremely interesting but last year in my Latin 3 class we used select stories from Ovid’s Metamorphoses as the basis for the translation part of the class. Because of this, I have a basic understanding of some of the stories and I thought it would be really cool to see the stories in English whether or not they differed from the translations I found/did.

Deucalion and Pyrrha:
I didn’t realize that there were other great flood myths other than the one present in the Bible. I thought it was interesting how it talked about the survivors as now living above the lands they once plowed in small boats, as well as the talk about the nereids seeing the old civilization now deep in the sea. Interesting how Deucalion was a great man of justice and he and his wife worshipped the mountain gods. Once the gods realized that such beautiful, innocent, god-fearing people survived Jupiter opened the earth to the heavens and the water recedes. It is interesting that the rest of the human race was made from the remains of mother earth before the flood and it symbolizes our ability to endure hard labour.

Io:

Why is Jupiter such a creep in ancient mythology? No concept of consent. In an effort to hide his infidelity from his wife, Juno, he transforms Io into a cow. Only for Juno to then claim her as a gift. He is conquered by shame. Eventually Jupiter takes pity on her suffering and rescues her from his wife’s keeper. It is very sad that Io has to pay for her rapist’s actions, and the long term effects she suffered as a result.

Phaethon and the Sun:

False fathers. Going through a whole ordeal to prove that his father really is the Sun (Phoebus). Matter of pride. Once he finds out that his mother was telling the truth his father offers him a wish and then immediately regrets it. Phaethon wants to be like a god so much and prove he is worthy that he is willing to risk death. He risks it even though his father, who is very much a god, is telling him how bad of an idea it is.

Phaethon's Ride:

Phaethon’s father is trying to convince him not to do it by citing his own love as proof enough that he is actually Phaethon’s father. It’s not enough. I think this episode speaks a lot about the state of pride and what it actually costs. You lose your control in life when trying to put pride before everything else. Overwhelmed by pressure. Regretting pushing too far; not being happy with what you already have, and always needing more. Great personification of the earth and other key elements.

Death of Phaethon:

I really like how ever one of these stories has a part that marks a distinct and evident change that occurs within the character (if it is physical or mental, either way). In an effort to prove himself he loses himself and almost kills the whole world. And his father places the blame of Phaethon’s death on someone else. Of course.

Callisto:

There really are so many of these stories about the male libido conquering women. Also, maybe the frivolity of love. Loss of self-control. Once again Callisto is blamed for her rape and the baby that results from it is called her shame. Diana throws her out of her circle of nymphs and Juno sees this as like the prim opportunity to enact her swift revenge. So she becomes a bear.

Semele: 

Oh some more infidelity. It is Juno who acts in revenge again because Semele is pregnant and that’s apparently just too far. I wonder if she too was raped? Another story where trying to prove to themselves (and others) that they really are associated with who they say they are can get you killed. She forgets she as a mortal can’t look unto a god in his full glory and is literally burned by fire at the sight of him.

To be continued...