Who was Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)? Biography, Life Story and Works

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Who was Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)? Information about the life, biography, works and philosphy about Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso).

Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)

Source: wikipedia.org

Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)

Publius Ovidius Naso, commonly known as Ovid, was a Roman poet born on March 20th, 43 BCE, in Sulmo, Italy. He was born into a wealthy family and received a good education, studying rhetoric and law in Rome and Athens.

Ovid began his literary career writing love poems, which were very popular at the time. His first collection, the Amores (The Loves), was published in 16 BCE and established his reputation as a poet. He followed this with the Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love), a manual on how to seduce women, which was also well received.

However, Ovid’s career took a dramatic turn in 8 CE when he was exiled to Tomis, a remote town on the Black Sea, by the emperor Augustus. The reasons for his exile are unclear, but it is believed that his works offended the emperor’s moral standards.

In Tomis, Ovid lived in relative isolation and wrote his most famous work, the Metamorphoses. This epic poem is a retelling of Greek and Roman myths, focusing on the theme of transformation. It is considered one of the greatest works of classical literature and has had a profound influence on Western art and culture.

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Ovid died in Tomis in 17 CE, and his body was buried there. His works continued to be popular throughout the Roman Empire and beyond, and he is still widely read today. In addition to the Amores, Ars Amatoria, and Metamorphoses, Ovid also wrote several other works, including the Heroides (Epistles of the Heroines), a collection of letters from mythological heroines to their absent lovers, and the Fasti, a poetic calendar of Roman festivals.

Overall, Ovid is regarded as one of the greatest poets of the ancient world, and his works have had a lasting impact on literature and culture. His themes of love, transformation, and the power of the imagination continue to resonate with readers today.

Works

Ovid was a prolific writer, and his works span a wide range of genres, including poetry, drama, and prose. Here are some of his most famous works:

  1. Amores – A collection of love poems that established Ovid’s reputation as a poet.
  2. Ars Amatoria – A didactic poem that offers advice on how to find and keep a lover.
  3. Metamorphoses – An epic poem that retells Greek and Roman myths, with a focus on the theme of transformation.
  4. Heroides – A collection of letters written by mythological heroines to their absent lovers.
  5. Fasti – A poetic calendar of Roman festivals.
  6. Tristia – A collection of poems written by Ovid during his exile in Tomis.
  7. Epistulae ex Ponto – A series of letters written by Ovid during his exile, begging for mercy and a chance to return to Rome.
  8. Ibis – A poem in which Ovid curses an enemy who he believed was responsible for his exile.
  9. Medicamina Faciei Femineae – A poem that offers advice to women on how to enhance their beauty.
  10. Remedia Amoris – A poem that offers advice to men and women on how to overcome the pain of love.

These works have had a profound influence on Western literature and culture and continue to be read and studied today.

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