Myth in "Ars Amatoria"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how Ovid's "Ars Amatoria", or "Art of Love", is a long poem that celebrates the ancient world's concept of the good life through the full liberation of the senses. In particular, it looks at how the poem frequently alludes to the sexual act and gives no indication that such acts carry a connotation of "evil". It discusses how Ovid uses the structure of mythology in order to give an air of authority and validity to what would otherwise seem a simple pornographic poem.

From the Paper:

"Dionysus was said to have a following of women known as the Maenads (mad ones), who wore fawn-skins and a thyrsus (ivy-crowned branch). Ovid refers to this as "Bacchanalian fury" (Internet source). Later, another ritual developed where the wives of farmers would venture forth into the woods every two years "where they danced by the light of sacred torches. Many bore snakes twined about them or fixed in their hair, while others passed jugs of wine and played upon the flute or tambourine. ... Finally, at the height of their frenzy, the Maenads (as they called themselves) converged upon a calf or kid, tearing it apart bare-handed and devouring the raw flesh. It was whispered that in days gone by the victims had been human. Many saw visions of Dionysus or fell to the ground, babbling his name. As well they might, for as early as the Iliad, Dionysus is described as the mainomenos (mad or crazed) god, while the root of Maenad also gives us the word 'maniac'" (Luyster 43)."

More papers on Myth in "Ars Amatoria":

• Analytical Essay # 102645 : "Myth in the Tales of Hercules"
• Book Review # 106817 : "Identity and Myth in "The Odyssey"
• Analytical Essay # 2130 : "The Christian Myth in "Dracula"

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