John H. Starks, Jr., jstarks@binghamton.edu Library Tower 1102, (607)777-4524 Office Hours: MW 11-12, Th 1-2 Statue of Ovid, Constantsa (ancient Tomi) in Romania Location of Ovid’s exile and death

Isis Receiving Io at Canopus, fresco from Temple of Isis, Pompeii, Style III, 1st c. BCE (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, picture taken June 22, 2005 by John Starks) LINGVA LATINA CCCLXXX A poemata de fervore hominum P. Ovidii Nasonis Binghamton University SUNY, Fall 2008 LT 1107, dies Lunae et Mercurii (MW) 3:30-4:55 PM

Daily Assignments/Syllabus Salvador Dali The Metamorphosis of Narcissus 1937 – Tate Gallery, London Course Requirements/Grading

Course Synopsis and Objectives: In this advanced Latin reading course, we will explore significant selections of Ovid’s epic of mythic (though not purely mythological) transformation, the Metamorphoses, and a few of his other poems, with a constant eye to Ovid’s many twists and turns on the presentation of passion, especially as manifested in eroticism, anger and appetite. Ovid utilizes many poetic and prose traditions to examine metamorphosis as a process fundamental to the oral storytelling traditions and mythologies that describe the origins of the natural world. We will read the entire epic in translation so we may discuss Ovid’s construction of particular books and his epic styling. Through translation, extensive class discussion, oral presentation, analytical writing, and scholastic inquiry, instructor and students will expand our language skills and our understanding of philosophical, moral, religious, and historical principles fundamental to the Roman experience. Student reports on other amatory works of Ovid, scholarly articles, and Ovid in other artistic traditions, as well as an introduction to important web, library, and database resources, will enhance the equally essential attention to Latin translation, scansion, and literary analysis.