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Heroides
In the twenty-one poems of the Heroides, Ovid gave voice to the heroines and heroes of epic and myth. These deeply moving literary epistles reveal the happiness and torment of love, as the writers tell of their pain at separation, forgiveness of infidelity or anger at betrayal. The faithful Penelope wonders at the suspiciously long absence of Ulysses, while Dido bitterly reproaches Aeneas for too eagerly leaving her bed to follow his destiny, and Sappho - the only historical figure portrayed here - describes her passion for the cruelly rejecting Phaon. In the poetic letters between Paris and Helen the lovers seem oblivious to the tragedy prophesied for them, while in another exchange the youthful Leander asserts his foolhardy eagerness to risk his life to be with his beloved Hero.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 17
About the author
Ovid
2,823 books1,701 followersPublius Ovidius Naso (20 March 43 BC – AD 17/18), known in English as Ovid was a Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus. He was a younger contemporary of Virgil and Horatius, with whom he is often ranked as one of the three canonical poets of Latin literature. The Imperial scholar Quintilian considered him the last of the Latin love elegists. Although Ovid enjoyed enormous popularity during his lifetime, the emperor Augustus exiled him to Tomis, the capital of the newly-organised province of Moesia, on the Black Sea, where he remained for the last nine or ten years of his life. Ovid himself attributed his banishment to a "poem and a mistake", but his reluctance to disclose specifics has resulted in much speculation among scholars.
Ovid is most famous for the Metamorphoses, a continuous mythological narrative in fifteen books written in dactylic hexameters. He is also known for works in elegiac couplets such as Ars Amatoria ("The Art of Love") and Fasti. His poetry was much imitated during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, and greatly influenced Western art and literature. The Metamorphoses remains one of the most important sources of classical mythology today.
Ovid is most famous for the Metamorphoses, a continuous mythological narrative in fifteen books written in dactylic hexameters. He is also known for works in elegiac couplets such as Ars Amatoria ("The Art of Love") and Fasti. His poetry was much imitated during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, and greatly influenced Western art and literature. The Metamorphoses remains one of the most important sources of classical mythology today.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
June 26, 2021
Review to come.
February 21, 2012
For mythology buffs, these poems are pure joy. The Heroides are a collection of 21 poems written from the perspective of heroines and heroes of epic and myth (the original "fan fiction?"). Written in the first person, each poem is addressed to the writer’s lover. The literary device most commonly deployed by Ovid is tragic irony. While the characters writing the poems do not know the outcome of the story, the reader (presumably) does. Ovid is able to give each writer their own unique voice, and displays a sharp understanding of human nature throughout the poems.
To really get the most out of the poems, a working knowledge of Greek mythology is a must. Most of the poems were published around 15 b.c., so Ovid could safely assume that the stories surrounding these characters were common knowledge to his audience. He therefore wastes little time in setting up backstory between the characters within each poem. The translation contains a glossary & index which provides a brief summary of the relevant mythology, but it's safe to say that you'll probably enjoy a letter from Penelope to Ulysses more if you're familiar with the Odyssey, for example.
There's really not a subpar poem in the bunch. V (Oenone to Paris), X (Ariadne to Theseus), XII (Medea to Jason), XIII (Laodamia to Protesilaus), XVI (Paris to Helen) and XVII (Helen to Paris) were some of my personal favorites. The conceit of giving a realistic, human voice to these famous heroes and heroines is a great one, and the execution is top notch. This is a worthy companion to the more famous Metamorphoses, and should not be missed by fans of mythology and Roman literature alike. 4.5 stars.
To really get the most out of the poems, a working knowledge of Greek mythology is a must. Most of the poems were published around 15 b.c., so Ovid could safely assume that the stories surrounding these characters were common knowledge to his audience. He therefore wastes little time in setting up backstory between the characters within each poem. The translation contains a glossary & index which provides a brief summary of the relevant mythology, but it's safe to say that you'll probably enjoy a letter from Penelope to Ulysses more if you're familiar with the Odyssey, for example.
There's really not a subpar poem in the bunch. V (Oenone to Paris), X (Ariadne to Theseus), XII (Medea to Jason), XIII (Laodamia to Protesilaus), XVI (Paris to Helen) and XVII (Helen to Paris) were some of my personal favorites. The conceit of giving a realistic, human voice to these famous heroes and heroines is a great one, and the execution is top notch. This is a worthy companion to the more famous Metamorphoses, and should not be missed by fans of mythology and Roman literature alike. 4.5 stars.
June 25, 2016
In the 21 poems of the Heroides, Ovid inserts himself into classical myth and epic by interjecting letters written by the heroines of larger stories. So, for example, he has Penelope write to Odysseus while he is lost on his way back to Ithaka from Troy; Dido to Aeneas after he has left Carthage for Rome; Briseis to Achilles after she has been passed to Agamemnon etc.
Usually lauded as giving a `female' voice to masculine epic, the Heroides, I think, is doing something more complex than that - and we should never forget that these `female' voices are as ventriloquised by a male author as their originals.
These poems were hugely popular in the Renaissance and gave rise to a large number of translations as well as looser imitations such as Marlowe's superb Hero and Leander, based on Heroides 18 & 19.
I think a fairly close acquaintance with the source text(s) is essential to really `get' these poems but for an alternative reading of classical epic in Augustan Rome they are illuminating.
Usually lauded as giving a `female' voice to masculine epic, the Heroides, I think, is doing something more complex than that - and we should never forget that these `female' voices are as ventriloquised by a male author as their originals.
These poems were hugely popular in the Renaissance and gave rise to a large number of translations as well as looser imitations such as Marlowe's superb Hero and Leander, based on Heroides 18 & 19.
I think a fairly close acquaintance with the source text(s) is essential to really `get' these poems but for an alternative reading of classical epic in Augustan Rome they are illuminating.
December 7, 2017
A horrible fan fic.
April 3, 2012
I'd never thought about reading more by Ovid, and then I came across The Heroides while showing someone else the wonders of my city's central library. (Before I knew it, I had a stack of nine books in my arms, despite the fact I'm about to go visit my parents via train, meaning I can't carry that many books.) Anyway, I was delighted to find this, and it's a nice edition too, with explanations of all the myths and extensive notes (which for the most part I don't need, but which were a handy refresher when I couldn't quite remember) and introductions to each poem. The translation seems good to me, in that it's readable and flows well, and doesn't get in the way of experiencing the poems.
In a way it seems almost a modern, feminist thing to do, giving these female heroines the space to make their complaints (though some of the poems are 'written' by men, they are the ones paired with a female response). Penelope voices her worries about Odysseus' long absence -- something I remember all the girls in my class being offended about on her behalf, since he spends most of the time in Circe and Calypso's beds. Medea pours out her outrage, Dido her heartbreak; Phaedra tries to manipulate Hippolytus into her arms. Not all of them are exactly wonderful women -- Medea is downright wicked -- but they're all given a chance to speak of their pain and the wrongs done to them.
In a way it seems almost a modern, feminist thing to do, giving these female heroines the space to make their complaints (though some of the poems are 'written' by men, they are the ones paired with a female response). Penelope voices her worries about Odysseus' long absence -- something I remember all the girls in my class being offended about on her behalf, since he spends most of the time in Circe and Calypso's beds. Medea pours out her outrage, Dido her heartbreak; Phaedra tries to manipulate Hippolytus into her arms. Not all of them are exactly wonderful women -- Medea is downright wicked -- but they're all given a chance to speak of their pain and the wrongs done to them.
January 5, 2022
This edition is a modern translation of a collection of poetry as fictional romantic letters. These are from mythical female characters who express their love, betrayal, abandonment or pain.
This work by Ovid is different from Metamorphoses. I was knocked back with how progressive this book is for its time. It was just wonderful to read the fictional hypothesis that gave (for example) Penelope’s point of view and made her seem more real to me. When reading Homer’s The Odyssey, the impression I was left of Penelope is a patient, understanding and loyal wife with Odysseus who leaves her for ten years with no word. Ovid paints a different picture, and it doesn’t stop with Penelope, there’s also Helen, Dido, Ariadne and Medea amongst others.
Aside from the wonderful poetry and giving these fictional women a voice, I also really liked how in reading this gave me a new way to look at these stories, I’m really pleased to have discovered this read.
This work by Ovid is different from Metamorphoses. I was knocked back with how progressive this book is for its time. It was just wonderful to read the fictional hypothesis that gave (for example) Penelope’s point of view and made her seem more real to me. When reading Homer’s The Odyssey, the impression I was left of Penelope is a patient, understanding and loyal wife with Odysseus who leaves her for ten years with no word. Ovid paints a different picture, and it doesn’t stop with Penelope, there’s also Helen, Dido, Ariadne and Medea amongst others.
Aside from the wonderful poetry and giving these fictional women a voice, I also really liked how in reading this gave me a new way to look at these stories, I’m really pleased to have discovered this read.
February 6, 2022
Héroïdes
By Ovid (43BC – AD17)
The Heroides is a work that could be seen as revenge by the female characters in Greek Mythology and especially in Homer’s Odysseus and Iliad.
Voice is given in form of letters to the wife’s, betrothed, betrayed and loving girls left behind when their men went to adventurous wars and explorations around the Mediterranean.
Homer pays little attention to the female actors in his tales.
Ovid instead makes them freely express all the frustrations they suffer, left behind too long, alone.
The wife known for her unfailing loyalty and faithfulness sends a letter to her husband:
- “Penelope to Ulysses: do not answer these lines, but come, for Troy is dead and the daughters of Greece rejoice.” …
-Phyllis to Demophoon: “Phyllis sends her complaint to Demophoon: you have not kept your promise to me.” …
-Briseis to Achilles: “the words you read come from stolen Briseis, an alien who has learned some Geek. A few of these lines are blurred by falling tears, tears which are as heavy as my words.” …
- Phaedra to Hippolytus: “A girl from Crete sends her greetings to a man who is the son of an amazon.” …
-Oenone to Paris: “Will you read? Does your new wife forbid? Read on, no Mycenean has written this.” …
- Hypsipyle to Jason: “Your keel is said to be safe in Thessaly and you are rich with the golden fleece. As much as I can applaud your safety, though the message should have come from you.” ….
- Dido to Aeneas: “…After the loss of all that is mine, good name, chastity of both body and soul, a loss of words is not important.” …
- Hermione to Orestes: - Deianira to Hercules: - Ariadne to Theseus – Canace to Macareus: - Medea to Jason: - Laodamia to Protesilaus: - Hypermestra to Lynceus: - Sappho to Phaon: - Paris to Helen: - Helen to Paris: - Leander to Hero: - Hero to Leander: - Acontius to Cydippe: -Cydippe to Acontius: -
Many heartbreaking stories are revealed.
Ovid provides the reader with an introduction to each situation and notes after the letters to explain who is who, where and when. The reader will gain or will be reminded of many chapters of Greek Mythology.
By Ovid (43BC – AD17)
The Heroides is a work that could be seen as revenge by the female characters in Greek Mythology and especially in Homer’s Odysseus and Iliad.
Voice is given in form of letters to the wife’s, betrothed, betrayed and loving girls left behind when their men went to adventurous wars and explorations around the Mediterranean.
Homer pays little attention to the female actors in his tales.
Ovid instead makes them freely express all the frustrations they suffer, left behind too long, alone.
The wife known for her unfailing loyalty and faithfulness sends a letter to her husband:
- “Penelope to Ulysses: do not answer these lines, but come, for Troy is dead and the daughters of Greece rejoice.” …
-Phyllis to Demophoon: “Phyllis sends her complaint to Demophoon: you have not kept your promise to me.” …
-Briseis to Achilles: “the words you read come from stolen Briseis, an alien who has learned some Geek. A few of these lines are blurred by falling tears, tears which are as heavy as my words.” …
- Phaedra to Hippolytus: “A girl from Crete sends her greetings to a man who is the son of an amazon.” …
-Oenone to Paris: “Will you read? Does your new wife forbid? Read on, no Mycenean has written this.” …
- Hypsipyle to Jason: “Your keel is said to be safe in Thessaly and you are rich with the golden fleece. As much as I can applaud your safety, though the message should have come from you.” ….
- Dido to Aeneas: “…After the loss of all that is mine, good name, chastity of both body and soul, a loss of words is not important.” …
- Hermione to Orestes: - Deianira to Hercules: - Ariadne to Theseus – Canace to Macareus: - Medea to Jason: - Laodamia to Protesilaus: - Hypermestra to Lynceus: - Sappho to Phaon: - Paris to Helen: - Helen to Paris: - Leander to Hero: - Hero to Leander: - Acontius to Cydippe: -Cydippe to Acontius: -
Many heartbreaking stories are revealed.
Ovid provides the reader with an introduction to each situation and notes after the letters to explain who is who, where and when. The reader will gain or will be reminded of many chapters of Greek Mythology.
August 28, 2024
♾️⭐️ lo emocionadaaa que estoy por este libro, es realmente el libro perfecto para mi y definitivamente de mis favoritos si no EL favorito 🥹 probablemente no va a generar esta reacción en todos los que lo lean, pero a mi por distintos motivos me tocó mucho 🫶🏼 son cartas escritas ficticiamente por un poeta romano importante que se hace pasar por las heroínas ✨ de la mitología griega enviando cartas a personajes hombres, ya sea enamoradas, desconsoladas, enojadas (hay mucho female rage) y dan a conocer las voces de las mujeres que pocas veces fueron tomadas en cuenta por los poetas griegos. gracias por tanto Ovidio 🤍🏛️
February 8, 2012
Ovid you are truly a master. Your poetry always reaches all the places in my heart and touches me deeply. I can absolutely sympathize with the women and men in these works. Love is complicated, love lost leaves much to scorn and curse in this world. Circumstance is the root of so much mischief and so much heartache, this and the fickleness of men. Absolutely beautiful. .
July 29, 2017
31. Heroides by Ovid, translated by Harold Isbell
original date: circa 16 bce
translated 1990
format: Paperback
acquired: Half-Price Books in October 2016
read: July 8-22
rating: 4
There are, apparently, many different Ovids, or he was a writer who worked in multiple distinctly independent styles. I would have said that differently if I hadn't started Metamorphoses before reviewing, and I would have had a vastly different impression of this if I hadn't read Amores and The Art of Love beforehand. Ovid's love poems introduced me to a hyper-witty and hyper-clever really knowledgeable but insincere poet. This was not that voice.
Heroides is a collection of letters written mainly by spurned heroines in Greek mythology to lovers. Fifteen of the letters come from the likes Penelope, Ariadne or Medea, or more obscure women like Laodamia to Protestilaus or Canace to Marcareus. The sixteenth letter comes from Sappho. And six more are back and forth with lovers. Paris writes Helen to woo her, and Helen writes back with what amounts to something that is not no. And so on.
I'm sure the modern ear can find much to make fun of, and any reader in any age will easily pick up the many levels of satire. But, oddly, these aspects don't color these letters. On the surface they are sincere. The heavy satire is mostly in the situations, the set-up if you like. The letters themselves are straightforward... often romantic, even when or because they are bitter. And they are occasionally moving. Laodamia's letter to Protestilaus stands out. In mythology Protestilaus leaves for Troy shortly after their marriage, and becomes the first casualty in the Trojan war. He is brought back to life for three hours to see Laodamia, who afterward commits suicide. She writes this letter as an unknowing widow. I found it a memorable and touching letter of love, bitter in its irony and yet tangible. Phyllus writes to Demophoon who, when she fell for him only to be abandoned, was not only hurt, but ruined. And she writes longingly.
A note about the translator, Harold Isbell. There are many oddities about him that give me pause. He was a bank director, not a professor. He provides a summary of each major character, a wonderful resource, but they are iffy and partial summaries. Each is simplified leaving a clean and often appealing impression, but one that may contradict or disregard major versions of these stories. His citations of ancient literature are incomplete and a bit haphazard. And, despite all his notes, he never once brings up anything about the translation or original Latin. But, I really enjoyed reading this. So... ??
original date: circa 16 bce
translated 1990
format: Paperback
acquired: Half-Price Books in October 2016
read: July 8-22
rating: 4
There are, apparently, many different Ovids, or he was a writer who worked in multiple distinctly independent styles. I would have said that differently if I hadn't started Metamorphoses before reviewing, and I would have had a vastly different impression of this if I hadn't read Amores and The Art of Love beforehand. Ovid's love poems introduced me to a hyper-witty and hyper-clever really knowledgeable but insincere poet. This was not that voice.
Heroides is a collection of letters written mainly by spurned heroines in Greek mythology to lovers. Fifteen of the letters come from the likes Penelope, Ariadne or Medea, or more obscure women like Laodamia to Protestilaus or Canace to Marcareus. The sixteenth letter comes from Sappho. And six more are back and forth with lovers. Paris writes Helen to woo her, and Helen writes back with what amounts to something that is not no. And so on.
I'm sure the modern ear can find much to make fun of, and any reader in any age will easily pick up the many levels of satire. But, oddly, these aspects don't color these letters. On the surface they are sincere. The heavy satire is mostly in the situations, the set-up if you like. The letters themselves are straightforward... often romantic, even when or because they are bitter. And they are occasionally moving. Laodamia's letter to Protestilaus stands out. In mythology Protestilaus leaves for Troy shortly after their marriage, and becomes the first casualty in the Trojan war. He is brought back to life for three hours to see Laodamia, who afterward commits suicide. She writes this letter as an unknowing widow. I found it a memorable and touching letter of love, bitter in its irony and yet tangible. Phyllus writes to Demophoon who, when she fell for him only to be abandoned, was not only hurt, but ruined. And she writes longingly.
A note about the translator, Harold Isbell. There are many oddities about him that give me pause. He was a bank director, not a professor. He provides a summary of each major character, a wonderful resource, but they are iffy and partial summaries. Each is simplified leaving a clean and often appealing impression, but one that may contradict or disregard major versions of these stories. His citations of ancient literature are incomplete and a bit haphazard. And, despite all his notes, he never once brings up anything about the translation or original Latin. But, I really enjoyed reading this. So... ??
Ariadne to Theseus
You would have died in the twisting halls without
the string that I gave to be your guide.
You said to me, 'I swear by these perils that
as long as we live, you will be mine.'
We are alive, Theseus, but I am not yours;
---
Laodamia to Protestilaus
I'm told the winds detain you at Aulis;
where were these winds when you sailed from me?
Then the tides should have risen against your oars;
then was the time for a raging surf.
I could have kissed my lord and given him more
requests, I wanted to say so much.
But you were hurried away by a wind your
crew loved; it was not a lover's wind.
---
Leander to Hero (across the water)
she is so near, but 'almost' starts tears.
March 30, 2022
he really went mask off- good for ovid!
i mean talk about the worst break up letter- you get dumped in the middle of the desert and are left there for dionysus to later pluck you from the sands and man handle you,,, this is athens' captain america bro?!
i mean talk about the worst break up letter- you get dumped in the middle of the desert and are left there for dionysus to later pluck you from the sands and man handle you,,, this is athens' captain america bro?!
March 13, 2016
immenso
Read
April 22, 20240,5/5 ✨️
Women from a man's prospective<<<<<
Women from a man's prospective<<<<<
June 25, 2010
Pro's : Very accessible, very personalized portraits, genuine emotion and insightful that is missing in most mythology. Even better is the Woman's vantage point in all the letters
Con's : Repetitive after a certain point. A lot of time is spent explaining the myths that the letters touch, which is both bad and good.
This book... if you are a person that has a semi-interest in mythology but find much of it too dry, this is the book that rips open the stuffiness, the tight Victorian corset placed on the stories over time but that also had its own dryness in the 2000 year old writing style.
When you read this; however, that's all gone. You read in the words of the characters themseves through these epistles, these unbearably earnest and insightful letters between characters.
One of them goes like this, for example: How can people call you a hero when you have left me and the life of your own wife to wasted? What glory is that? How can I congratulate you on your courage fighting the three headed dog when I only spend my time imagining how close I came to losing you?
Highly recommended, it is especially good because the letters come in small chunks and can be served alone. Previous mythology experience isn't necessary.
Con's : Repetitive after a certain point. A lot of time is spent explaining the myths that the letters touch, which is both bad and good.
This book... if you are a person that has a semi-interest in mythology but find much of it too dry, this is the book that rips open the stuffiness, the tight Victorian corset placed on the stories over time but that also had its own dryness in the 2000 year old writing style.
When you read this; however, that's all gone. You read in the words of the characters themseves through these epistles, these unbearably earnest and insightful letters between characters.
One of them goes like this, for example: How can people call you a hero when you have left me and the life of your own wife to wasted? What glory is that? How can I congratulate you on your courage fighting the three headed dog when I only spend my time imagining how close I came to losing you?
Highly recommended, it is especially good because the letters come in small chunks and can be served alone. Previous mythology experience isn't necessary.
June 26, 2023
So here's the deal: Ovid the prominent Roman author does a concept piece on heroines of Old Greek mythology, voicing their (as yet unvoiced) perspectives in full literary drag, and also happens to invent a new genre. The poems were a big hit back then, and while widely criticized by classicists for being, well I suppose not in line with the classicist aesthetic, it's come full circle to the late 20th or rather early 21st century, in a well accessible translation by Clare Pollard.
Her introduction raised some high hopes, and fifteen roleplay epistoles later, it appears that Oviid and Pollard delivered. Though not in the sense I expected.
There 1s a lot going on in terms of contemporary pop culture, with plenty of reference to gods, celebrities, and other storylines. But ultimately, with all the skill and verse paraded, this still gets monotonous, at least as bad as all the "men's" narratives of battles and heroics and near-escape-victories. Pollard does just enough to update the terms and language, so the stories, rants and asides do talk to the reader. Actually, reading a few poetic, stagey speeches from jilted and/or abandoned lovers and wives is interesting, but with fifteen you start reevaluating what Ovid was getting at here.
There's an obvious pattern, with all these wives and girlfriends being dumped or left behind in favor of adventures and battle. It's all very justifiably, agonizingly unfair, from said women1s points of view- after all, breakups can hurt a lot, and ghosting is probably as bad as it gets. Much rather than a sort of early women's blues catalog, this seems to me more like a demonstration through repetition, of how the laments pile up, the damage gets done over and over, and the sum ends up more than its parts. Fair play, Ovid, it's a good a start as any to put a hammer against the ceiling.
So, classic.
Her introduction raised some high hopes, and fifteen roleplay epistoles later, it appears that Oviid and Pollard delivered. Though not in the sense I expected.
There 1s a lot going on in terms of contemporary pop culture, with plenty of reference to gods, celebrities, and other storylines. But ultimately, with all the skill and verse paraded, this still gets monotonous, at least as bad as all the "men's" narratives of battles and heroics and near-escape-victories. Pollard does just enough to update the terms and language, so the stories, rants and asides do talk to the reader. Actually, reading a few poetic, stagey speeches from jilted and/or abandoned lovers and wives is interesting, but with fifteen you start reevaluating what Ovid was getting at here.
There's an obvious pattern, with all these wives and girlfriends being dumped or left behind in favor of adventures and battle. It's all very justifiably, agonizingly unfair, from said women1s points of view- after all, breakups can hurt a lot, and ghosting is probably as bad as it gets. Much rather than a sort of early women's blues catalog, this seems to me more like a demonstration through repetition, of how the laments pile up, the damage gets done over and over, and the sum ends up more than its parts. Fair play, Ovid, it's a good a start as any to put a hammer against the ceiling.
So, classic.
January 21, 2022
”I qm courage then. I am a famous throne. If I did not love a heart like yours, I would be made of iron; but iron I am not, believe me, though I resist loving one I have decided can hardly be mine.”
Heroides is (mostly) a collection of letters from famous women of greek/roman mythology to the men they are in love with. There's letters from ladies such as Penelope, Medea, Dido and Ariadne. The letters are love poems - some are more romantic and wistful and full of longing, while some are angry rants over how the men used and betrayed the women in their lives. It's an interesting collection since these are some of the very few ancient texts that are fully from a woman's point of view: you get a deep dive into these women's minds, thoughts and feelings, which is quite cool.
As with all collections of poetry or shorter pieces of writings, some of these poems were amazing, brilliant and will stay with me, while some were just okay. For example, I absolutely adored this book's take on Helen of Troy - her poem was probably my favorite version of Helen ever written: I love how the complexities of her emotions and thoughts really came out in this letter - she was at the same time insulted that Paris would think she would just leave everything behind for him, flattered by Paris's adoration and compliments, determined to resist him and remain a good, moral woman and wife, and falling for him. I loved how angry she was. I also really liked Ariadne's heartbroken, bitter letter to Theseus (I dislike Theseus quite a bit so whenever someone roasts him, even a little bit, it makes me quite happy) and Medea's letter to Jason that was an intriguing mix of threatening and pleading. But as I said, some poems were more meh than others: I didn't hate any one of them, but some, like Deianeira's letter to Hercules, were more forgettable.
I would definitely recommend this collection, especially if you are interested in the women of greek and roman mythology and want to read ancient texts from their point of view. I also think the poems are just generally quite beautifully written and they are definitely very emotional and dramatic - if you like overflowing declarations of endless passion and all that stuff in your poems, I think you'd like this collection!
Heroides is (mostly) a collection of letters from famous women of greek/roman mythology to the men they are in love with. There's letters from ladies such as Penelope, Medea, Dido and Ariadne. The letters are love poems - some are more romantic and wistful and full of longing, while some are angry rants over how the men used and betrayed the women in their lives. It's an interesting collection since these are some of the very few ancient texts that are fully from a woman's point of view: you get a deep dive into these women's minds, thoughts and feelings, which is quite cool.
As with all collections of poetry or shorter pieces of writings, some of these poems were amazing, brilliant and will stay with me, while some were just okay. For example, I absolutely adored this book's take on Helen of Troy - her poem was probably my favorite version of Helen ever written: I love how the complexities of her emotions and thoughts really came out in this letter - she was at the same time insulted that Paris would think she would just leave everything behind for him, flattered by Paris's adoration and compliments, determined to resist him and remain a good, moral woman and wife, and falling for him. I loved how angry she was. I also really liked Ariadne's heartbroken, bitter letter to Theseus (I dislike Theseus quite a bit so whenever someone roasts him, even a little bit, it makes me quite happy) and Medea's letter to Jason that was an intriguing mix of threatening and pleading. But as I said, some poems were more meh than others: I didn't hate any one of them, but some, like Deianeira's letter to Hercules, were more forgettable.
I would definitely recommend this collection, especially if you are interested in the women of greek and roman mythology and want to read ancient texts from their point of view. I also think the poems are just generally quite beautifully written and they are definitely very emotional and dramatic - if you like overflowing declarations of endless passion and all that stuff in your poems, I think you'd like this collection!
June 16, 2023
Davvero interessante leggere alcuni famosi miti dal punto di vista femminile sottoforma di epistole.
Sembra strano, ma gli argomenti e il modo in cui essi vengono trattati rendono questo libro quasi moderno e attuale, piacevolissimo da leggere.
È bello constatare il modo in cui Ovidio si immedesima in queste donne mitiche e come le rende finalmente protagoniste delle loro storie.
Consiglio di ripassare brevemente i miti di ciascuna protagonista per aver meglio presente il contesto delle lettere.
Sembra strano, ma gli argomenti e il modo in cui essi vengono trattati rendono questo libro quasi moderno e attuale, piacevolissimo da leggere.
È bello constatare il modo in cui Ovidio si immedesima in queste donne mitiche e come le rende finalmente protagoniste delle loro storie.
Consiglio di ripassare brevemente i miti di ciascuna protagonista per aver meglio presente il contesto delle lettere.
December 9, 2014
Once I found out Ovid wrote an epistolary book from the perspective of such important figures as : Helen, Paris, Leander, Madea, I just had to read it. So we finally know how to woe, to faint modesty, voice despair, threaten as only the ancients could (with a heavy dose of passion and misogyny). This was a good book if you're a fan of Greek mythology, but are not fluent in each protagonist's story since the letters themselves often make notice of the royal lineage and history of the lover so as to give more importance to his/her suit. Depending on the sender, the letter either explores unrequited love, incest, betrayal, the validity of a vow and so much more. This translation makes for a quick read and I look forward to other books by the author.
Want to read
November 11, 2017koskoca ovidius'u heroides (kitabın adı) yapmışsınız asdfasads
nys yazıverdim gruba düzeltilmesi için.
iyi güldüm gece gece :D
nys yazıverdim gruba düzeltilmesi için.
iyi güldüm gece gece :D
August 25, 2024
3.75 - this work is difficult to rate because while I did enjoy some of the poems within, there were also some I didn’t find as interesting, although I do think that Ovid’s want to explore some of the mythical heroines and speak from their perspective is intriguing.
I appreciated the spread of heroines featured in this collection was well, as there were some that are very familiar, some not as well known, some sympathetic, and some certainly not. These personality differences did allow each poem to feel unique, which I appreciate sing it would have been very easy for several of these to feel extremely similar to one another. I think my favorites were “Deianira to Hercules,” “Ariadne to Theseus,” and “Helen to Paris” as I thought the voice that Ovid adopted for each of these heroines, and thus the way they characterized the man they were speaking to was really interesting. Along these lines, I also noticed in the preface for many of the poems that Ovid fabricated information that wasn’t originally part of the myth, and it makes me wonder why he felt the need to do that. Is it because he wanted to portray a certain personality that the confines of the original myth wouldn’t allow? I’m not sure, but I did think it was surprising how many of these heroines did seem different from how they existed in their original material.
I also want to note that some of the preface information (which essentially just summarized what you were about to read and the tone of the poem) didn’t actually seem to line up with how I interpreted the poems and didn’t always provide context that I thought would be important. For example, in “Medea to Jason” there was no mention of Love shooting Medea with his arrows to help ensure Jason’s victory, a crucial detail when discussing Medea’s later insanity and her lack of choice in her relationship with Jason. The editor just made it seem like she was crazy with jealousy at and anger, which she was, but it was more because of the gods’ influence than her own individual volition. In most of these poems there seemed to be a lack of knowledge about how the gods were manipulating certain situations, and while I can understand the characters themselves not realizing this influence, I did find it strange that the introductions didn't provide this context.
I was interested when I first heard about this collection how Ovid was going to approach giving these heroines voices, and while it's definitely obvious he took some creative liberties, I also think he put forth some complex characters that can shed an alternate light on these women.
I appreciated the spread of heroines featured in this collection was well, as there were some that are very familiar, some not as well known, some sympathetic, and some certainly not. These personality differences did allow each poem to feel unique, which I appreciate sing it would have been very easy for several of these to feel extremely similar to one another. I think my favorites were “Deianira to Hercules,” “Ariadne to Theseus,” and “Helen to Paris” as I thought the voice that Ovid adopted for each of these heroines, and thus the way they characterized the man they were speaking to was really interesting. Along these lines, I also noticed in the preface for many of the poems that Ovid fabricated information that wasn’t originally part of the myth, and it makes me wonder why he felt the need to do that. Is it because he wanted to portray a certain personality that the confines of the original myth wouldn’t allow? I’m not sure, but I did think it was surprising how many of these heroines did seem different from how they existed in their original material.
I also want to note that some of the preface information (which essentially just summarized what you were about to read and the tone of the poem) didn’t actually seem to line up with how I interpreted the poems and didn’t always provide context that I thought would be important. For example, in “Medea to Jason” there was no mention of Love shooting Medea with his arrows to help ensure Jason’s victory, a crucial detail when discussing Medea’s later insanity and her lack of choice in her relationship with Jason. The editor just made it seem like she was crazy with jealousy at and anger, which she was, but it was more because of the gods’ influence than her own individual volition. In most of these poems there seemed to be a lack of knowledge about how the gods were manipulating certain situations, and while I can understand the characters themselves not realizing this influence, I did find it strange that the introductions didn't provide this context.
I was interested when I first heard about this collection how Ovid was going to approach giving these heroines voices, and while it's definitely obvious he took some creative liberties, I also think he put forth some complex characters that can shed an alternate light on these women.
January 10, 2024
The poems themselves, courtesy of Ovid, are fantastic. It’s so interesting to read the voice of women, even in fiction, from antiquity.
I’ll admit I dislike the translator. In his essays prior to each poem (poems often condemning mistreatment by a man), he manages to portray the women as villains, victims of their own choices, or inanely passive. The poems themselves also read as if he were very committed to conveying the literal definition of the original, rather than…any beauty or sentiment. But maybe that’s Ovid’s style as well, I cannot say.
I’ll admit I dislike the translator. In his essays prior to each poem (poems often condemning mistreatment by a man), he manages to portray the women as villains, victims of their own choices, or inanely passive. The poems themselves also read as if he were very committed to conveying the literal definition of the original, rather than…any beauty or sentiment. But maybe that’s Ovid’s style as well, I cannot say.
January 12, 2024
Grande passionnée par les femmes de l'Antiquité et de la mythologie, je ne pouvais passer à côté de cette œuvre classique. Cela fait quelques années qu'elle traîne dans ma bibliothèque, attendant patiemment que je me lance. Et j'ai finalement trouver l'occasion parfaite : le challenge Nerdae Antiquae.
Par où commencer pour vous vendre cette pépite ? La notoriété de l'œuvre ? Ses personnages ? Son format ? Son auteur ? Difficile de choisir. Commençons peut-être par le thème ! Ce livre est un recueil de lettres écrites sous forme de poésie, de femmes de l'antiquité à leur amant qui les a abandonnées. En d'autres termes : des femmes très énervées et tristes qui tapent sur leur amant qui s'est fait la malle. Tentant non ?
Passons maintenant rapidement sur la notoriété ! Œuvre classique disais-je, écrite par l'un des grands auteurs latins, que je remercie d'avoir mis à l'honneur des figures féminines. Féministe avant l'heure ? Peut-être. Sans doute. Ou simplement une volonté d'être original ? Possible aussi. Néanmoins, cela ne change pas le résultat, à savoir que l'on a une belle mise en avant de femmes importantes de la mythologie, trop souvent mises de côté ou mal représentée. Sa plume, du moins sa traduction, nous emporte avec poésie et parfois même de l'humour.
Toujours pas convaincu ? Voyons voir... Faisons un tour d'horizon des femmes présentes, voulez-vous ? Tout d'abord, la femme antique qui a capturé mon cœur : Médée. Médée qui maudit Jason pour son infidélité et son ingratitude. Vient ensuite Pén��lope. Pénélope fatiguée de ne pas voir son mari revenir après tant d'années, la laissant aux prises avec des prétendants mal éduqués alors qu'il passe du bon temps avec toutes les femmes qu'il croise. Ariane ! Ariane qui hurle après Thésée pour l'avoir lâchement abandonné sur une île déserte alors même qu'il n'aurait pu réussir ses exploits sans elle. Ingrat aussi donc. Briséis qui reproche à Achille de ne pas l'avoir récupéré après s'être faite piqué par Agamemnon. Sappho, Hélène, Déjanire et bien d'autres encore.
Voilà donc tous mes arguments, sortis du cœur pour vous recommander cette incroyable œuvre antique. Donc n'hésitez pas du tout à vous laissez convaincre par mes propos et (re)découvrir cet auteur à travers ce recueil. Et si vous cherchez une occasion... Une deuxième édition du challenge Nerdae Antiquae peut-être parfaite pour vous !
Par où commencer pour vous vendre cette pépite ? La notoriété de l'œuvre ? Ses personnages ? Son format ? Son auteur ? Difficile de choisir. Commençons peut-être par le thème ! Ce livre est un recueil de lettres écrites sous forme de poésie, de femmes de l'antiquité à leur amant qui les a abandonnées. En d'autres termes : des femmes très énervées et tristes qui tapent sur leur amant qui s'est fait la malle. Tentant non ?
Passons maintenant rapidement sur la notoriété ! Œuvre classique disais-je, écrite par l'un des grands auteurs latins, que je remercie d'avoir mis à l'honneur des figures féminines. Féministe avant l'heure ? Peut-être. Sans doute. Ou simplement une volonté d'être original ? Possible aussi. Néanmoins, cela ne change pas le résultat, à savoir que l'on a une belle mise en avant de femmes importantes de la mythologie, trop souvent mises de côté ou mal représentée. Sa plume, du moins sa traduction, nous emporte avec poésie et parfois même de l'humour.
Toujours pas convaincu ? Voyons voir... Faisons un tour d'horizon des femmes présentes, voulez-vous ? Tout d'abord, la femme antique qui a capturé mon cœur : Médée. Médée qui maudit Jason pour son infidélité et son ingratitude. Vient ensuite Pén��lope. Pénélope fatiguée de ne pas voir son mari revenir après tant d'années, la laissant aux prises avec des prétendants mal éduqués alors qu'il passe du bon temps avec toutes les femmes qu'il croise. Ariane ! Ariane qui hurle après Thésée pour l'avoir lâchement abandonné sur une île déserte alors même qu'il n'aurait pu réussir ses exploits sans elle. Ingrat aussi donc. Briséis qui reproche à Achille de ne pas l'avoir récupéré après s'être faite piqué par Agamemnon. Sappho, Hélène, Déjanire et bien d'autres encore.
Voilà donc tous mes arguments, sortis du cœur pour vous recommander cette incroyable œuvre antique. Donc n'hésitez pas du tout à vous laissez convaincre par mes propos et (re)découvrir cet auteur à travers ce recueil. Et si vous cherchez une occasion... Une deuxième édition du challenge Nerdae Antiquae peut-être parfaite pour vous !
March 21, 2022
bien mais suis nulle en mythologie donc bon connais pas tout le monde
May 20, 2021
Ironic subversive love poems. Women show and lament the thoughtless and fickle nature of male heroes.
January 23, 2023
‘I have subdued serpents and raging bulls, but a single man I could not control; I have turned back the raging fire with cunning potions, but I cannot turn aside the consuming flame of my desire.’ - Medea to Jason
‘I loved unwisely, my crime was simple: I wanted you.’ - Phyllis to Demophoon
‘My plea is not that you should love but rather that you let yourself be loved by me.’- Sappho to Phaon
‘I loved unwisely, my crime was simple: I wanted you.’ - Phyllis to Demophoon
‘My plea is not that you should love but rather that you let yourself be loved by me.’- Sappho to Phaon
February 8, 2018
One of Ovid's most interesting works; a series of poetic letters written (with a few exceptions) from heroines in Greek myth to men in their lives. Medea to Jason, Penelope to Odysseus, etc. One or two are responses from the men, including the useless Paris.
This edition (Penguin Classics) has good, readable translations in good poetry. The introduction, introductory notes, and endnotes are detailed but tedious. The introductions to each poem dwell mostly on form, content, irony, and other critical considerations, but never relate the relevant myth, which would be helpful for some of the more obscure ones.
Recommended.
This edition (Penguin Classics) has good, readable translations in good poetry. The introduction, introductory notes, and endnotes are detailed but tedious. The introductions to each poem dwell mostly on form, content, irony, and other critical considerations, but never relate the relevant myth, which would be helpful for some of the more obscure ones.
Recommended.
May 25, 2022
Lo he disfrutado muchísimo, y eso que me lo he tenido que leer prácticamente en dos días y deprisa y corriendo porque, como siempre, una se acaba dejando las lecturas obligatorias de la universidad para el último momento. Lo volveré a leer en algún momento, de manera más pausada y pudiendo detenerme en leer las notas para entender todo bien, porque hay muchísimas referencias a linajes, mitos, etc. que no conozco.
Dentro del contexto en el que se escribió esta obra, creo que es increíble que se ponga voz a las mujeres de la mitología, pero sobre todo a aquéllas que acabaron desdichadas y maltratadas por el héroe de turno. Ovidio emplea sus voces para recalcar los malos comportamientos de héroes, a veces siguiendo algunas de las tragedias griegas, pero de una manera mucho más íntima y personal. Se le da, en muchas ocasiones, profundidad a aquellos personajes femeninos a los que nunca se trató de entender (por ejemplo, Helena de Esparta).
Si os gusta la mitología, lo recomiendo mucho. Cada carta explica, de manera resumida, el mito en el que se basa, así que tampoco hace falta mucho conocimiento previo. Eso sí, creo que es para leer cada una de las cartas con calma para poder apreciar cada una de ellas todo lo bien que se merecen.
Dentro del contexto en el que se escribió esta obra, creo que es increíble que se ponga voz a las mujeres de la mitología, pero sobre todo a aquéllas que acabaron desdichadas y maltratadas por el héroe de turno. Ovidio emplea sus voces para recalcar los malos comportamientos de héroes, a veces siguiendo algunas de las tragedias griegas, pero de una manera mucho más íntima y personal. Se le da, en muchas ocasiones, profundidad a aquellos personajes femeninos a los que nunca se trató de entender (por ejemplo, Helena de Esparta).
Si os gusta la mitología, lo recomiendo mucho. Cada carta explica, de manera resumida, el mito en el que se basa, así que tampoco hace falta mucho conocimiento previo. Eso sí, creo que es para leer cada una de las cartas con calma para poder apreciar cada una de ellas todo lo bien que se merecen.
October 27, 2012
Very interesting in how Ovid wanted to give these mythological ladies a voice of their own in what is essentially epic tales dominated by men and their heroic deeds. It's quite repetitive in that they all essentially end up whining about how cruelly they've been slighted, cast aside or forgotten by their men. One side of me feels sorry for them because it was a time where women didn't have any say in their fate. Yet the repetitive nature of the whining got on my nerves a little.
Overall I believe Ovid gave it his best shot in giving life to what was essentially characters that were at times mere sketches in the myths they featured in. There were some really beautiful passages too, and the epistolary style also won me over (love stories told in letter form!) So I can safely say that the task of taking obscure mythical female characters and spinning a story around them begun quite firmly with Ovid's 'Heroides'.
This is recommended to anyone who enjoyed Ursula le Guin's 'Lavinia' pr Margaret Atwood's 'Penelopiad', which run in a similar vein.
Overall I believe Ovid gave it his best shot in giving life to what was essentially characters that were at times mere sketches in the myths they featured in. There were some really beautiful passages too, and the epistolary style also won me over (love stories told in letter form!) So I can safely say that the task of taking obscure mythical female characters and spinning a story around them begun quite firmly with Ovid's 'Heroides'.
This is recommended to anyone who enjoyed Ursula le Guin's 'Lavinia' pr Margaret Atwood's 'Penelopiad', which run in a similar vein.
December 1, 2018
The majority of Ovid's letters are wonderful insights into "minor" characters, even if they are pushing for Roman conservatism in gender roles. That said, his emphasis on discrediting Sappho's lesbianism and her poetic mastery was nothing but petty. I only gave it three stars because of the other letters, but Sappho's was truly disheartening.
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