Week 2: Reading Diary- Ovid I

Here are some of my thoughts on the first section of  Ovid's Metamorphoses...

Deucalion and Pyrrha:

I think the most interesting part about this story for me, as a Christian, is its resemblance to the Abrahamic story of Noah and the flood. Both stories depict an angry god, or gods in this case, disappointed in humanity enough to wipe it off the face of the earth with a flood. Luckily for humanity though, a honorable and just man and woman survive the disaster to recreate the human race. Deucalion and Pyrrha, children of the Titans, are the equivalent of Adam and Eve in Greek Mythology.

(Illustration by Virgil Solis)

Lo:

 From what I've learned about Zeus in all of my past reading of Greek myth, his inability to control his lust always causes problems. This story is no different. If he hadn't raped Lo, then he wouldn't have had to change her into a cow to spare her from Juno's wrath. Then he wouldn't have had to send Mercury to kill Argus. The only positive, if it can be called one, is that Argus' death led to Juno's creation of the peacock. It all ends with Lo returning to her normal form, but it was a pretty big hassle for everyone involved!

Phaethon and the Sun:

From this part of Phaethon's story, all I get is that he is an arrogant little kid, who doesn't know what he is getting himself into. He gets his feelings hurt because people don't think his father is Apollo. For this, he asks to drive the sun, and puts the whole world at risk. Why are the characters of Greek myth so immature?

Phaethon's Ride:

Just like Apollo predicted, Phaethon is destroying heaven and earth with fire due to his inability to control the chariot. It seems in all these stories that the innocent people suffer at the hands of foolish gods and their children. Like every kid who has bitten off more than they can chew, Phaethon just hopes his mistake isn't his last.

The Death of Phaethon:

This story just gets more and more tragic. Now Apollo has to watch helpless as Jupiter kills his son with a lightning bolt. I didn't really understand the importance of Phaethon's sisters transformation into poplar trees or Cycnus' transformation into a swan, but I do understand Apollo's guilt and shame for what he let his son do and the consequences of  granting his son's absurd request. It still seems like all of these problems could have been so easily avoided.

(Painting by Gustave Moreau)

Callisto:

Once again Zeus' lust causes major problems for other people. Rape seems to be  a pretty common theme in Greek mythology I suppose. Callisto did nothing wrong and she gets kicked out of Diana's hunting club and Juno turns her into a bear! Later her son, Arcas, is turned into a bear by Jupiter, and they both are placed in the sky as the constellations Uras Major and Ursa Minor: The Great Bear and the Little Bear. 

Semele:

Jupiter really needs to learn to control himself! Honestly, if I was was Juno, I would have given up on him by now, but I guess he is the most powerful of all the gods. The only good news in this story is that only one innocent person died: Semele, destroyed by the god she loved. Also, the god Bacchus was born, which isn't all bad.

Echo:

The character of Jupiter is really intriguing to me, this story especially. In past stories, he has always gotten innocent people in trouble through his infidelity, but this time it seems that he takes pity on Tiresias, after Juno took his sight. Also, it would have been miserable to be Echo. Never being able to initiate would be awful!

Narcissus:

It is kind of hard for me to feel bad for Narcissus. How you could you pity someone so arrogant and full of themselves? One interesting thing I noticed is that, since Narcissus dies in his youth, he does not live long enough to see time tarnish his beauty... a blessing and a curse.

(Echo and Narcissus, Painting by John William Waterhouse)

Pyramus and Thisbe:

It is almost identical to Romeo and Juliet. The tragedy of the star-crossed lovers is obviously a common theme of ancient times. It seems to me that these types of tragedies are so easlly prevented, and therefore all the more tragic.

Mars and Venus:

Wow that really sucks for Vulcan! He catches his wife, Venus, cheating on him with Mars, and on of the other god dares to say that he would like to be caught in the same situation. I would be beyond pissed off!

Perseus and Andromeda:

Perseus has got to be one of the more well known Greek heroes, because his story was made into a movie, even if it was a little campy. He was a great hero, slaying Medusa and turning Atlas into a mountain is awesome, but to saving his future wife, Andromeda, from a sea monster is a pretty good story to be told at a wedding!

(Painting by Piero di Cosimo)

Perseus and Medusa:

I guess telling the story of how Perseus slayed Medusa was the best one for the wedding! Using his shield as a mirror was a brilliant move, and it is why Perseus is remembered as such a great hero. Also, it seems like the worst thing that could happen to a woman of that age was to be born beautiful. Then a god would violate you and you would suffer much harm from it.