The Ovid’s Metamorphoses tend to utilize the ancient Greek myths and transforms into Roman beliefs. Ovid uses various stories to explore a mythic view of the Roman State, which is significant in providing a historical view of the State. As such, Ovid has utilized many myths in his poetry, but the essay will utilize three major myths highlighted in the Ovid Metamorphoses. Firstly, the myth of Picus is identified in the Roman mythology by Book 14 of the Ovid’s Metamorphoses. According to Ovid, Picus was turned into a woodpecker by Circe the witch, when he refused to be disloyal to his wife, Canens. Picus was a son of Saturn and he later came to be recognized with Zeus. 1 Picus was also identified as an agricultural deity that would fertilize the soil with manure. As an etiological myth, the myth of Picus is significant in explaining how Picus was transformed into a woodpecker, which is viewed as a natural phenomenon. The witch turned him into the woodpecker because he did not give into her demands of becoming unfaithful to his wife. The teleological view of the myth is based on the fact that the myth was effective in portraying how individuals embraced the agricultural development. The deity was worshiped by the Romans so as to improve their agricultural activities, which was also a growing cultural event in the history of the Roman State. The Picus myth is, thus, imperative in displaying the ancient Roman State.
Secondly, Ovid also presents the myth of Vertumnus and Pomona. Vertumnus was referred to as the God of the turning year because he had special powers that allowed him to undertake shape-fitting. Vertumnus had the ability to change himself into different forms such as a shepherd, a fisherman, and a charioteer among many others. Pomona, on the other hand, was a fairy capable in garden culture and nurturing fruit trees. Pomona spent a good portion of her life caring for the fields and looking for new ways of creating better fruits. Vertumnus was determined to seduce Pomona, and, hence, he turned himself into an old woman so as to persuade Pomona to marry her. Vertumnus used various phenomena to win the love of Pomona. As an etiological myth, the myth of Vertumnus is vital in portraying how the ancient Roman gods used their powers to manipulate various things. For instance, Vertumnus would use his powers to change himself into any form and shape. Vertumnus also allows the audience to learn more about the past natural phenomena through his words to Pomona. The teleological view of the myth is significant in depicting the structure of civilization, given that Pomona was a serious woman, who many men would not have managed to woo. She was highly engrossed in her fruit caring business and would not mind about any other issue in the world.
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Lastly, Ovid also highlights the Trojan War myth, which is one Greek myth that Ovid has utilized in defining the Roman State. The Trojan War was an enduring war between the Greeks and the Trojans. The majority of the Greek heroes and soldiers were killed during the war that was assumed to last for over ten years. The cause of the war was also said to because of the quarrel that occurred between the Goddesses Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena. 2 The Greeks used the Trojan horse so as to overcome the fighting from the Trojans and managed to escape to Greece. The Trojan War outlines an etiological approach by representing the past events that occurred in the Greek Empire, as well as, showing the civilization of the people during those times. The war was significant in the deaths of various Greek heroes and also showed the wealth of the Trojans that was stolen by the Greeks. The teleological view of the Trojan War is symbolized by the fact that the defeat of the Trojans by the Greeks was viewed as a wrath of God. The situation portrays that the supernatural being was also accorded the responsibility of various occurrences in the world at that time in history.
Bibliography
Solodow, Joseph B. The world of Ovid's Metamorphoses . UNC Press Books, 2014.
1 Joseph, Solodow, B. The world of Ovid's Metamorphoses . (UNC Press Books, 2014), 76
2 Ibid., 78
