National Geographic History - 11.2019 - 12.2019

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HISTORY 7

ironic voice. A famous poem describing
a hot summer’s afternoon of lovemaking
ends with the lines:

Fill in the rest for yourselves!

Tired at last, we lay sleeping.

May my siestas often turn out that way.

Some have theorized that Corinna
had a real-life corollary: Fifth-century
writer Sidonius Apollinaris identified
her as Julia the Elder, Augustus’ daughter,
and posited that Ovid enjoyed a dalli-
ance with her. Sidonius credited that

scandalous relationship for Ovid’s ex-

ile, but later historians have debunked

this theory. Most commentators regard

Corinna as a fictional character.

Following this debut, Ovid notched

up one success after another. His Heroi-

des (Heroines) was a series of dramatic

monologues centering on mythological

women, including Penelope, Dido and

Ariadne, lamenting on their mistreat-

ment at the hands of their lovers.

A three-part work, Ars amatoria, com-

pleted around A.D. 2 was a sensation. The

first two parts are a “how-to” guide for

men on seducing women and keeping

their love. Ovid counsels that absence

makes the heart grow fonder and that

asking a woman’s age is not a recipe for

seduction. Part three is aimed at women

and includes the suggestion that making

a lover jealous isn’t such a bad idea.

Courting Danger

Ovid had struck publishing gold. His

handbook gave his young audience prac-

tical tips under the guise of a formal di-

dactic work. But despite its success,

Ovid craved a more learned readership.

IN THE AMORES, written when

he was in his 20s, Ovid nar-

rates the different phases of

the poet’s love for Corinna: an

initial spark, followed by pas-

sion, jealousy, reproach, and

finally hatred. It is thought

that Corinna was an invented

character, perhaps a compos-

ite of various real lovers. Later

in life, Ovid would experience

a more mature love, based on

mutual respect, with his third

wife, Fabia, who supported him

through his traumatic exile. In

the Tristia, the poems written

during his last years in Tomis,

he likens Fabia to Odys-

seus’ Penelope, faithfully

awaiting his return.

MANY

KINDS

OF LOVE

OVID, FIRST-CENTURY MARBLE BUST.

UFFIZI GALLERY, FLORENCE

WHITE IMAGES/SCALA, FLORENCE