Classics and the Western Canon discussion

Week 6 — Books 10 & 11

Book 10 includes: Orpheus & Eurydice, Cyparissus, Ganymede, Apollo & Hyacinthus,Two Incidents of Venus’ Anger, Pygmalion, Myrrha & Cinyras, The Story of Adonis, Atalanta & Hippomenes, The Fate of Adonis

Book 11 includes: The Death of Orpheus, The Story of Midas, Building the Walls of Troy, Peleus & Thetis, Daedalion, The Story of Peleus’ Cattle, Ceyx & Alcyone, Aesacus & Hesperia

We get more great description from Ovid in this weeks’ reading. I found myself yawning as I read about the god of sleep and his various minions. We get the humor of Midas’ donkey ears and the family tragedy of Myrrha and Cinyras’ incest. And sometimes it seems as though every bird, plant, and flower has a transformation story.

Have any of Ovid’s retellings changed your impression/take of a familiar myth?

Are there stories he tells that are new to you?

(Apologies for this late posting. Somehow I lost track of the date)

I'd say about half of them I've never heard of. Many of the others I knew of only dimly. It's one after the other, loosely linked together. They all blur together in my mind.

Roger wrote: "I'd say about half of them I've never heard of. Many of the others I knew of only dimly. It's one after the other, loosely linked together. They all blur together in my mind."

I have only started this section. But my reading up to now, is captured by Roger's comments almost exactly!

Susan wrote: And sometimes it seems as though every bird, plant, and flower has a transformation story. I know!!! I had no idea that so many of the myths had Gods and mortals change into animals, trees and other plants. I will look at some flora and fauna differently now, for sure!

These stories put me in mind of the modern (post Ovidian) Christian myth/curse of the dogwood tree appearing anonymously sometime around the 1950s.

The myth goes that In Christ’s time, dogwoods were tall, sturdy trees; frequently used for carpentry and construction, strong enough to make a cross.

After the Crucifixion, the tree was transformed:
> It would never grow large enough again to be used for such a purpose.
> Its branches would henceforth be slender and twisted, unfit for building.

Their flowers, though, carry sacred symbolism:
> Four petals form a cross
> The tips bear reddish spots like nail prints and in some varieties around red-tinged holes in the edges.
> The center cluster looks like a crown of thorns
> The flowers bloom around Easter.

I finally got caught up with the reading and find that I am enjoying the way Ovid peppers his narrative with asides and commentary--sometimes humorous, sometimes sarcastic. I am also enjoying his use of detail to describe a scene, an event, or a transformation.

Feelings of passion are in excess in so many of these stories. More often than not, a character is willing to risk all, including his/her life, just to attain the subject of passion. It is exaggerated, but perhaps that is part of Ovid's humour.

One thing I'm wondering about is this: Is there a connection between the type of transformation, (i.e. whether the transformation is in animal or plant form,) and the event or action that precipitated the transformation in the first place? Does anyone know whether the type of transformation (animal or plant) is contingent upon a character's behavior or is it just haphazard?

David wrote: "These stories put me in mind of the modern (post Ovidian) Christian myth/curse of the dogwood tree appearing anonymously sometime around the 1950s.

The myth goes that In Christ’s time, dogwoods we..."

Interesting comparison, David, I wonder if Ovid has any similar examples where a tree/bird/etc is turned into a tree/bird/etc with different characteristics. I can’t remember any so far, but there have been so many transformations….maybe someone else can?

Roger wrote: "I'd say about half of them I've never heard of. Many of the others I knew of only dimly. It's one after the other, loosely linked together. They all blur together in my mind."

That sounds about right for my experience so far — half new, half heard before. I find I enjoy Ovid’s take on familiar tales as much or more than some of the new ones

Tamara wrote: "One thing I'm wondering about is this: Is there a connection between the type of transformation, (i.e. whether the transformation is in animal or plant form,) and the event or action that precipita..."

Great question! I haven’t noticed a pattern, but maybe someone else has?