Ovid: Part 2

I found what Romeo & Juliet was based off of, and I like Ovid’s version much better. However, the difference between Pyramus & Thisbe and Romeo & Juliet is that no one else dies because of Pyramus, unlike Romeo. I think the reason for no one else dying in the former is because they actually had a relationship and truly loved each other. They were not necessarily stupid, just hasty—they were actually in love, whereas Romeo and Juliet had no relationship and did not love each other—they really were just stupid, and people died because Romeo could not control himself.

I found out a thing—Ovid actually does use some Greek names that do have Roman counterparts: for example, the god Pan; he uses both terms “faun” and “satyr”; Boreas, the god of the North Wind; Iris, goddess of the rainbow; and the titan Themis, who was actually a good titan.

I think it is really interesting that in this version of Ares and Venus the god who wishes they “could be shamed like that” is not named, and in one version, it’s Hermes (Mercury). I also really like how Ovid mentions that “This story went the rounds of the sky for a long time afterwards.” Also, “afterwards” has apparently always been used, and so has “afterward,” and both are correct, which is really interesting. There are so many interesting things I’m learning today! Maybe this is just me…

Ambrosia, the food of the gods, is finally mentioned.

Whoa, Leucothoe’s father was a very extreme individual. It was clearly not his daughter’s fault that the Sun took her.

I feel like Ovid throws out these little bits of humor. “‘Real gods can do anything!’—Bacchus, however, was not included among them.” Basically, Bacchus? Yeah, he’s not a real god. Shh, don’t tell him. He might get offended. But he sucks. “Daphnis, turned to a rock by a nymph’s proud anger against her rival—lovers can be so wickedly jealous!” Basically, isn’t it so so funny how lovers get jealous sometimes and someone ends up dead? Or they turn in to an animal or an inanimate object! That’s so hilarious! Ovid must have been a crack-up at parties.

I was not expecting such a gruesome death of a baby. That was very unexpected, and kind of depressing, and definitely violent. Athamas should get locked up for that. Or, you know, at least see a therapist or something.

OK, so I think the second Leucothoe is different than the first Leucothoe, if only because the accents on their names are different, but if I am wrong, and they are the same, why do we find out about Leucothoe’s merging before we find out how she came into existence? That does not make sense. Unless they really are different, in which case, why do they have the same name?

Gods and goddesses seem to live by extremes. They do not seem to be happy very often. This might just be because someone always does something stupid against someone else, but this strange rivalry had to come from somewhere.

Another fun fact: Jove is another name for Jupiter. So, when people say “by Jove” they are really saying “by Jupiter” or “by Zeus.”

Why does the Sun have no other name than the Sun or Hyperion’s son? He is called by neither his Roman (Helios) nor his Greek (Sol) name.

I wonder why Venus mentions her Greek name. Does this mean all the gods are aware of their other selves? I wouldn’t be surprised, but that is probably one of the most interesting things I learned.