Metamorphis by Ovid was first published in Latin in 8BC, during the reign of Augustus. It is a collection of 15 books, which form ‘one contiuouse poem ranging in time from the beginning of the universe to Ovids own lifetime. (p.3 Ovid). Since The first known English translation by William Caxton in it has been translated many times each version to suit the English speaking Audience of that day. I will be using the David Raeburn’s 2004 translation published by Penguin Classics.

Ovid was writing for an audience of his time he continued with the ancient literary technique of retelling a familiar myths, the age he lived in was reflected in the content and style of his writing ‘ Ovid designed his poem to be delivered aloud in acceptable lenghts (p.xxxvii ovid) entertaining in a serial form (ovid (xxxviii) originally written in datylic hexameter. The ‘Dactylic hexameter rhythms signal that a poem is being recited’ ((skidmore.edu) By using this technique Ovid is suggesting his work should be compared to Homer’s Iliad the oldest surviving Greek poem and according to Herodotus the poet together with Hesoid who ‘described the gods for the Greeks and gave them all their titles, offices and powers.( Herodotus p33 visual sources.)