# Ovid

## Biography

Publius Ovidius Naso, known widely as Ovid, was a prominent Roman poet born on March 20, 43 BCE, in Sulmo, Italy. Hailing from a well-to-do equestrian family, he received an extensive education in rhetoric in Rome, initially intended for a career in public service. However, Ovid found himself drawn to poetry, which he pursued with natural talent. He eventually abandoned official posts to dedicate himself entirely to writing.

Ovid's early works, such as *Amores* and *Ars Amatoria*, explored themes of love and seduction with wit and sophistication. His magnum opus, the *Metamorphoses*, is a sprawling narrative poem that retells numerous Greek and Roman myths focusing on transformations, establishing itself as a cornerstone of classical mythology. In 8 CE, Emperor Augustus controversially exiled Ovid to Tomis, a remote city on the Black Sea, citing "a poem and a mistake" – widely believed to be his *Ars Amatoria* and an unspecified transgression. Despite his pleas, Ovid died in exile around 17 CE, never permitted to return to Rome. His imaginative verse profoundly influenced Western literature and art for centuries.

## Books

- [The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books I-VII](https://samolit.com/books/96298)