The metamorphoses of Ovid
By: translated with an introduction and commentary by Michael Simpson.
Contributors: Simpson, Michael, 1934-
Publisher: University of Massachusetts
Published: 2001
Place of publication: Amherst
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 497
Subjects: Fables, Latin -- Translations into English; Metamorphosis -- Mythology -- Poetry; Mythology, Classical -- Poetry
Genres: Translations into English.; Poetry.
Description: "Composed in Latin in the early years of the first century by the Roman poet Ovid, the Metamorphoses presents a collection of amazing tales of transformation based on Greek mythology and Roman legend. Ovid was the most gifted storyteller of his age, and the Metamorphoses is his masterpiece. It begins with the creation of the world and continues through the founding of Rome to the reign of the emperor Augustus in Ovid's own time.".

"Many of the great stories from Greek mythology can be found in the Metamorphoses, including those of Apollo and Daphne, Jupiter and Io, Actaeon, Narcissus and Echo, Pyramus and Thisbe, Daedalus and Icarus, Orpheus and Eurydice, Pygmalion, and Venus and Adonis. The genial narrator sails unperturbed through tale after tale of love and loss, quest and battle, violence and suffering, human striving and folly.

Ovid's wit and verbal adroitness quicken the pace of the narrative and make the work supremely accessible."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 471-478) and index.
Table of contents: title: Book 1. Prologue; the creation; the four ages; the Giants’ attempt to invade heaven; Jupiter and the gods; Lycaon; the flood; Deucalion and Pyrrha; Python; Daphne and Apollo; Jupiter and lo; Argus and Mercury; Pan and Syrinx; the death of Argus; lo in Egypt; Clymene and Phaethon // Book 2. Phaethon at the Sun-god’s palace; Phaethon’s flight and death; the sisters of Phaethon; Cycnus; Jupiter and Callisto; Diana and Callisto; Callisto and Arcas; the raven and the crow; Apollo and Coronis; Ocyrhoe; Mercury and Battus; Mercury, Herse, and Aglauros; the house of Envy; Envy and Aglauros; Jupiter and Europa // Book 3. Cadmus’ founding of Thebes; Actaeon; Jupiter and Semele; the birth of Bacchus; Tiresias; Echo and Narcissus; Pentheus and Bacchus; Acoetes; the death of Pentheus // Book 4. The daughters of Minyas; Pyramus and Thisbe; Mars and Venus; the Sun-god, Leucothoe, and Clytie; Salmacis and Hermaphroditus; the metamorphosis of the daughters of Minyas; Juno and Tisiphone; Tisiphone, Athamas, and Ino; the metamorphosis of Cadmus and Harmonia; Perseus and Atlas; Perseus and Andromeda; Perseus and Medusa // Book 5. Perseus and Phineus; Minerva and the Muses; Pyreneus; the contest between the Muses and the daughters of Pierus; Typhoeus; the rape of Proserpina; Cyane; Arethusa; Ascalaphus; the Sirens; Arethusa’s story; Triptolemus and Lyncus; the metamorphosis of the daughters of Pieros // Book 6. Minerva and Arachne; Latona and Niobe; Latona and the Lycian farmers; Marsyas; Tereus, Procne, and Philomela; Boreas and Orithyia // Book 7. Jason, Medea, and the quest for the golden fleece; Medea and Aeson; Medea and Pelias and his daughters; the flight of Medea; Medea, Aegeus, and Theseus; Minos and Aeacus; Cephalus and Aeacus; the plague at Aegina and the creation of the Myrmidons; Cephalus and Procris // Book 8. Nisus and Scylla; Daedalus, the Minotaur, and the labyrinth; Ariadne; Daedalus and Icarus; Perdix; Meleager and the Calydonian boar hunt; Althaea and the death of Meleager; Theseus and Achelous; the Echinades and Perimele; Baucis and Philemon; Erysichthon and Hunger; Erysichthon’s daughter // Book 9. Achelous and Hercules; Hercules, Deianira and Nessus; the suffering of Hercules; Lichas; the death and apotheosis of Hercules; Galanthis and Hercules’ birth; Dryope; lolaus; Themis’ prophecy and the sons of Callirhoe; Miletus, Byblis and Caunus; Iphis and lanthe // Book 10. Orpheus and Eurydice; Orpheus’ retreat to Thrace; Cyparissus; the song of Orpheus: Ganymede; Apollo and Hyacinthus; the Cerastae and the Propoetides; Pygmalion; Cinyas and Myrrha; Venus and Adonis; Atalanta and Hippomenes; the death of Adonis // Book 11. The death of Orpheus; Midas; Laomedon’s double treachery; Peleus and Thetis; Peleus and Ceyx; Daedalion and Chione; the slaughter of Peleus’ cattle; Ceyx and Alcyone; the house of Sleep; Alcyone’s dream; the metamorphosis of Ceyx and Alcyone; Aesacus and Hesperia // Book 12. The Greeks at Aulis; Rumor; the Greeks’ arrival at Troy and the beginning of the Trojan War; Achilles and Cycnus; Nestor’s story: Caeneus, the Lapiths and centaurs, and the death of Caeneus; Nestor, Tlepolemus, and Periclymenus; the death of Achilles // Book 13. Ajax, Ulysses, and the arms of Achilles; Ajax’s suicide; the fall of Troy; Hecuba’s grief; the murder of Polydorus; the sacrifice of Polyxena; Hecuba’s discovery of Polydorus’ body and her revenge and metamorphosis; Aurora’s intercession for Memnon; Memnon’s funeral; Aeneas’ flight from Troy with a band of Trojans; Aeneas on Delos; Anius’ daughters; the daughters of Orion; continuation of Aeneas’ journey; Scylla and Galatea: Galatea’s story the song of Polyphemus, and the metamorphosis of Acis; Glaucus and Scylla // Book 14. Glaucus, Circe, and Scylla; Aeneas’ arrival at Cumae in Italy; Aeneas’ journey to the underworld; the sybil’s story; Achaemenides and Macareus; Achaemenides’ story; Macareus’ story; Picus; Aeneas’ arrival at the mouth of the Tiber, marriage to Lavinia, and war with Turnus and the Rutulians; Venulus and Diomedes; Diomedes’ story; continuation of the war between Aeneas and Turnus; Turnus’ defeat; the metamorphosis of Ardea; the death and apotheosis of Aeneas; successors of Aeneas; Pomona and Vertumnus; Iphis and Anaxarete; additional successors of Aeneas, the founding of Rome, and early Roman history; the apotheosis of Romulus and Hersilia // Book 15. Numa’s journey to Croton; Myscelus and the founding of Croton; the teachings of Pythagoras; Numa’s return from Croton and his death; Egeria’s grief; Hippolytus’ story; Cipus; Aesculapius’ arrival in Rome; the apotheosis of Julius Caesar; prayer for Augustus; epilogue.