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Miti d'amore e di vendetta nelle Metamorfosi di Ovidio

IstitutoVeneto・2 minutes read

The event highlights the impact of Ovid's "Metamorphoses" on literature and culture, showcasing his innovative storytelling and themes of transformation that resonate through time. Professor Francesca Ghidini emphasizes Ovid's significance as a poet who challenged traditional narratives and his lasting influence on poetic expression, even in contemporary literature.

Insights

  • The event caters to both in-person and virtual audiences, highlighting its welcoming atmosphere and the availability of content online for future viewers, which enhances accessibility and engagement with the material presented.
  • Professor Francesca Ghidini plays a pivotal role in reshaping the image of archaeologists, challenging conventional portrayals through her insights, particularly in the context of how cinema influences public perceptions of this field.
  • Ovid's "Metamorphoses" is a central focus, celebrated for its imaginative storytelling that explores themes of transformation, mythology, and human emotions, showcasing Ovid's innovative retelling of classic myths rather than creating them anew.
  • The lasting impact of Ovid's work is evident in its influence on literature and culture, particularly during the medieval period, where his texts were preserved and admired, shaping literary traditions and erotic poetry, and continuing to resonate with contemporary scholarship and artistic expression.

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Recent questions

  • What is the meaning of metamorphosis?

    Metamorphosis refers to a transformation or change, often in form or structure. In literature, it is frequently used to describe characters or beings that undergo significant changes, reflecting deeper themes of identity, growth, and the nature of existence. The concept is notably explored in Ovid's "Metamorphoses," where various myths illustrate transformations, such as humans becoming animals or plants, symbolizing the fluidity of life and the interconnectedness of all beings. This theme resonates across cultures and time periods, highlighting the universal experience of change and the impact of external forces on personal identity.

  • How can I improve my poetry writing?

    Improving poetry writing involves several key practices that enhance creativity and technical skill. First, reading a wide range of poetry can expose you to different styles, forms, and themes, inspiring your own work. Experimenting with various poetic forms, such as sonnets, haikus, or free verse, can help you find your unique voice. Additionally, focusing on the musicality of your verses, including rhythm and meter, is crucial, as poetry is inherently tied to sound. Writing regularly and seeking feedback from peers or mentors can also provide valuable insights and encourage growth. Lastly, revisiting and revising your work is essential, as it allows you to refine your ideas and expression, ultimately leading to more impactful poetry.

  • What are the themes in Ovid's works?

    Ovid's works are rich with themes that explore transformation, love, and the complexities of human emotions. Central to his most famous work, "Metamorphoses," is the theme of metamorphosis itself, where characters undergo physical and emotional changes, often as a result of divine intervention or personal choices. Love, in its various forms—romantic, tragic, and unrequited—also plays a significant role, as seen in stories like that of Pyramus and Thisbe. Additionally, Ovid delves into the interplay between fate and free will, illustrating how characters navigate their desires and the consequences of their actions. His irreverent tone and innovative storytelling techniques further emphasize the enduring relevance of these themes in understanding human nature and relationships.

  • What is the significance of Ovid's exile?

    Ovid's exile to Tomis is a pivotal moment in his life and literary career, marking a profound shift in his personal and creative expression. This banishment, attributed to political tensions and moral expectations of the time, deeply affected Ovid, leading him to write poignant pleas for forgiveness and reflections on his lost status. The experience of exile is significant as it highlights themes of isolation, longing, and the search for identity, which permeate his later works. Ovid's ability to articulate his trauma and loss through poetry not only showcases his resilience but also enriches the emotional depth of his narratives. His exile ultimately serves as a testament to the enduring power of art to convey personal and universal struggles, solidifying his legacy as a masterful poet.

  • How did Ovid influence later literature?

    Ovid's influence on later literature is profound and far-reaching, impacting various genres and styles throughout history. His innovative narrative techniques and exploration of themes such as love, transformation, and identity have resonated with countless writers, including Dante, who incorporated Ovidian elements into his own poetry. The enduring popularity of Ovid's "Metamorphoses" in medieval culture, where it was copied and discussed in monasteries, underscores its significance in shaping literary traditions. Ovid's works also inspired the development of erotic poetry, as his candid exploration of human emotions and relationships set a precedent for future poets. His legacy continues to be felt in contemporary literature, where themes of metamorphosis and the complexities of love remain central to storytelling, illustrating the timeless nature of his contributions to the literary canon.

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Summary

00:00

Ovid's Legacy in Literature and Culture

  • The event welcomes both in-person attendees and virtual spectators, emphasizing the cordial atmosphere and the accessibility of the content on the website for future viewers.
  • Professor Francesca Ghidini is introduced as a colleague and conversationalist, highlighting her role in challenging traditional portrayals of archaeologists, particularly through the lens of cinema.
  • The discussion centers on the significance of Ovid as a poet, with a focus on his imaginative and creative abilities, particularly in relation to his work "Metamorphoses," which explores themes of transformation and myth.
  • Ovid, born in Sulmona in 43 BC to a wealthy equestrian family, initially pursued a legal career but shifted to poetry after achieving early success with his elegies, particularly in love poetry.
  • His friendship with Julia Major, daughter of Augustus, is noted as a pivotal relationship that may have contributed to his eventual exile due to political tensions and moral expectations of the time.
  • Ovid's literary contributions include "Amores," "Heroides," and "Ars Amatoria," with the latter being a guide on love and seduction, showcasing his deep understanding of human emotions and societal issues, including abortion.
  • The "Metamorphoses," completed in 8 AD, is described as a cosmocosmogonic poem that narrates the origins of the world and includes various myths, emphasizing Ovid's unique retelling of these stories rather than inventing them.
  • Ovid's exile to Tomis, a remote location beyond the Roman Empire, is highlighted as a significant turning point in his life, where he wrote desperate pleas for forgiveness to Augustus, reflecting his trauma and loss.
  • The narrative of Apollo and Daphne is discussed as an example of Ovid's storytelling, where he portrays Apollo negatively, which may have contributed to his exile due to the emperor's disapproval of such depictions.
  • The lecture concludes with an emphasis on Ovid's lasting impact on literature and culture, particularly through his ability to weave complex emotional narratives and his innovative approach to classical myths.

18:59

Apollo Eros and Transformations in Ovid's Myths

  • The text discusses the mythological figure Apollo, who is depicted in a gem found near the Black Sea, showcasing his recognizable features and his interaction with Eros, the god of love, who wields two arrows—one of gold that incites love and one of lead that causes rejection.
  • Eros uses his arrows on Apollo, striking him with the golden arrow, which leads to Apollo's infatuation, while the lead arrow is aimed at another figure, placing Apollo in a negative light due to his arrogance towards Eros.
  • The narrative transitions to a Pompeian painting illustrating the moment Apollo attempts to capture a nymph, who invokes the earth for help, leading to her transformation into a tree, a theme prevalent in Ovid's "Metamorphoses."
  • Ovid's "Metamorphoses" became significant in education, surviving through the Christian tradition as it was copied and discussed in monasteries, with the oldest known version dating back to the 9th century, while illustrated copies emerged in the 12th century.
  • The text highlights the cultural impact of Ovid's work, noting that aristocrats desired beautifully illustrated manuscripts to display in their homes, and brides often decorated their trousseaus with Ovidian themes.
  • A specific example is given of a Giorgionesque chest depicting Apollo's courtship, where the nymph begins to transform, with her hands turning into branches, illustrating the moment captured by Bernini in marble.
  • Apollo's romantic failures are recounted, including his love for the youth Hyacinthus, who dies accidentally during a discus throw, leading Apollo to mourn and accept the will of fate.
  • The story of Callisto is mentioned, where she is transformed into a bear by Jupiter after being pursued, highlighting the themes of transformation and divine intervention in Ovid's myths.
  • The text also discusses the relationship between Venus and Mars, detailing their affair and the humorous consequences when they are caught in a net crafted by Vulcan, showcasing Ovid's irreverent tone.
  • The narrative concludes with the tale of Jupiter and Io, where Jupiter transforms Io into a heifer to hide her from his wife, Hera, illustrating the complexities of divine relationships and the recurring theme of transformation in Ovid's storytelling.

37:21

Tragic Transformations in Mythical Love Stories

  • Mercury beheads Argus, whose eyes are transformed into the peacock's tail by Juno, symbolizing the story of the peacock's eyes.
  • Io, in the form of a heifer, reaches Egypt where she transforms back into a girl and is pregnant, having been loved by Jupiter, the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
  • Io is welcomed into the Isiac cult in Egypt, becoming a model for Ptolemaic princesses, often depicted with cornettes that signify her status as a dynasty founder.
  • Jupiter transforms into a swan to seduce Leda, resulting in the birth of two children, Castor and Pollux, and the tragic tale of Clytemnestra.
  • Venus falls in love with Adonis, who is marked by the stigma of sin, leading to a tragic end when he is killed by a boar, and from his blood, flowers arise.
  • Pyramus and Thisbe, the archetypal tragic lovers, meet at night but are separated by a lioness, leading to their double suicide under a mulberry tree, which turns from white to red.
  • Narcissus, cursed to fall in love with his own reflection, ultimately leads to his demise, depicted in various artworks, including Caravaggio's famous painting.
  • The story of Myrrha, who falls in love with her father, results in her transformation into a myrrh tree, from which Adonis is born, linking her to tragic love.
  • Niobe, proud of her fourteen children, faces divine retribution when Apollo and Diana kill her children, leading to her ultimate despair and transformation into stone.
  • Actaeon, who accidentally sees Diana bathing, is transformed into a stag and hunted by his own dogs, raising questions about the nature of guilt and punishment in Ovid's narratives.

56:12

Ovid's Enduring Legacy in Poetry and Culture

  • The discussion centers on Ganymede, a beautiful young man taken to heaven by Jupiter, who becomes immortal and serves as the coachman of the gods, highlighting themes of beauty and wisdom attributed to him in both the Vulgate and Plato's writings.
  • The speaker reflects on the pride of the poet, particularly Ovid, who expresses his desire for immortality through his poetry, claiming that his name will endure beyond death, similar to how Virgil and Catullus immortalized their respective hometowns.
  • Ovid's "Metamorphoses" concludes with a powerful assertion of his spirit's immortality, stating that even in death, his essence will rise above the stars, emphasizing the enduring nature of his fame and poetic legacy.
  • The speaker critiques the interpretation of Ovid's work in the context of Christian culture, suggesting that while there were attempts to moralize his texts, these efforts stemmed from admiration rather than outright betrayal.
  • The medieval reception of Ovid is discussed, noting that his works were copied and admired, with references to how Ovid influenced later writers, including Dante, who incorporated Ovidian themes into his own poetry.
  • The speaker highlights the importance of Ovid's influence on medieval culture, asserting that Ovid's works, particularly the "Metamorphoses," played a significant role in shaping literary traditions and erotic poetry during that period.
  • The discussion includes a personal anecdote about the speaker's academic journey, illustrating how Ovid's themes and styles continue to resonate in contemporary literature and scholarship.
  • The speaker emphasizes the intrinsic connection between poetry and rhythm, arguing that the musicality of Ovid's verses is essential to their impact, and expresses a preference for poetry that maintains a rhythmic quality.
  • The conversation touches on the evolution of poetic forms, suggesting that modern poetry may be rediscovering metrics, with references to contemporary music genres like rap as potential influences on poetic rhythm.
  • The speaker concludes by affirming the significance of Ovid's contributions to Western culture, asserting that his works remain central to understanding the development of poetic expression and the enduring nature of artistic legacy.

01:17:51

Innovations in Contemporary Poetic Metrics

  • The text discusses the persistence of metric forms in poetry, emphasizing that while the institutional idea of metric may have faded, poets like Montale and Fugazzaro continue to innovate within these structures. Montale's use of unique meters, such as the 9 Lario, is highlighted, along with references to Boccaccio's prose and the effective use of hendecasyllables, showcasing how traditional metrics can be adapted creatively in contemporary poetry.
  • The text also mentions the ongoing relevance of rhyme and metric in modern poetry, citing Giorgio Caproni's use of strofetta and metastasiana, and notes the innovative approach of writing epic poetry in unconventional meters. It underscores the influence of past poets, such as Foscolo, on contemporary works, illustrating that the evolution of metric forms remains a vital aspect of poetic expression.
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