Reading Notes: Ovid's Metamorphoses (Books 1-4) Part B

 Ovid's Metamorphoses Part B

(Image Information: image by Spencer Davis)

Pyramus and Thisbe

This myth is a tragedy of two lovers Pyramus and Thisbe.

 Pyramus and Thisbe grew up together and fell in love, but their parents wouldn't allow them to be married.

 Their houses were built together and shared a wall. In that wall, there was a crack they shared and used it to speak with one another. One day, they decide to run away and meet at a tree. At the tree, a hungry lioness appeared and scares Thisbe off, and she leaves her veil. Pyramus finds her with blood thinking she has died. Being sad, Pyramus goes to the tree and kills himself. The tree's fruit turned a deep blackish-red and the roots were soaked. Then, Thisbe returns finding a dead Pyramus and kills herself.

This is the classic Romeo and Juliet type story. Though, the addition of lion is interesting. I really liked the idea the two lovers shared a crack into the wall where they could chat. This has to be one of my favorite parts. Neither of the characters didn't grow. 

Mars and Venus

This myth is about the god Vulcan learns his wife the goddess Venus and the god Mars are having an affair.

Vulcan was upset his wife had an affair. He filed a net from bronze to cling to the smallest movement and placed it on the bed where his wife and her lover lay. The net captured Venus and Mars. Vulcan opened the doors for the gods to see leaving Venus and Mars ashamed.

This is story has the idea of revenge. I like how Vulcan doesn't sit around and wait. He takes action by creating the net to catch his wife. Once his wife and her lover are caught, Vulcan doesn't stop there. Instead, he embarrasses them and committing fully into retribution.

Perseus and Andromeda

This myth focuses on Perseus who fought off a sea-serpent and beheaded Medusa.

Perseus has early cut off the Gorgon Medusa's head and carries to around with him. While traveling, he seeks for rest at Atlas's house but was turned away because of a prophecy. Perseus lifted Medusa's head before Atlas and turns him to a mountain.

Perseus comes across a beautiful young woman, Andromeda, chained to a hard rock. She was being punished for her mother's fault with Jupiter. A sea-serpent rises from the ocean to harm her. Nearby were her parents, a king and a queen, out frightened. He makes a bargain with them to rescue Andromeda, and she will be his. They agree.

I like how the story begins with Perseus already possessing Medusa's head. This sets up how his character is strong and capable. However, there isn't really any character arc for him to grow or a personality. He is a shell of a man with the character trait of strong and mean. Atlas refused Perseus to enter his home, and Perseus cursed him with Medusa's head.

In a way, I could see him as a villain. He was only willing to save Andromeda if she was promised to him. Though, this story reminds me of a damsel in distress from a monster being saved by a knight, which I have to admit to liking this story trope.

Perseus and Medusa

The myth continues with Perseus taking on the sea-serpent. He manages to kill the serpent. He places Medusa's head below the waves. This is what causes the living ocean plants to be harder, like coral. Perseus and Andromeda are married, and he tells the story of killing Medusa.

At the entrance to a cave, there had been the Graeae sisters who shared one eye between them. He removed the eye and continued. He found people of stone who looked at Medusa. He looked to her a circular bronze shield. While she was in a deep sleep, Perseus struck her head off and Pegasus and Chrysaor were born her blood.

Medusa was once beautiful. However, Neptune violated Medusa in a temple. She hid behind the goddess Minerva's aegis so the act won't go unpunished. The goddess transformed the Gorgon's hair into snakes.

I've heard the reason why Medusa was given her powers and hair. However, I've heard two different ways Medusa received her hair. One, Athena pitied her and gave her the snake hair. Second, Athena was upset with Medusa committing the act in her temple and cursed Medusa.

I really like the idea of her suffering and having to deal with her turning people to stone. I wish the Graeae sisters had a bigger part.

Bibliography: 

Ovid, Pyramus and Thisbe translated by Tony Kline(2000)

Ovid, Mars and Venus translated by Tony Kline(2000)

Ovid, Perseus and Andromeda translated by Tony Kline(2000)

Ovid, Perseus and Medusa translated by Tony Kline(2000)