Speaker 1: Yeah, oh hi, hello again. This is let's talk about
Speaker 1: Mitts baby, and I am that host, that woman who
Speaker 1: could talk about Greek mythology for the rest of time
Speaker 1: and find herself perfectly content live. It is endlessly wild
Speaker 1: to me how long I've been doing this and still
Speaker 1: how much I learn every week between my obsessive research
Speaker 1: for episodes and my conversations with some super smart and
Speaker 1: cool people. I'm constantly fascinated, constantly learning, constantly obsessing over
Speaker 1: you facts and ideas. The ancient world is seriously, seriously incredible,
Speaker 1: and I would like to know everything about it please.
Speaker 1: And on that note, that note of how cool and
Speaker 1: wonderful the ancient world is, how brilliant and interesting it's
Speaker 1: writers were. Shall we dive back into my favorite Roman author,
Speaker 1: possibly just my favorite Roman overall. It His metamorphoses one
Speaker 1: of the most beautiful sources on classical mythology, even if
Speaker 1: we often don't know what of it invented and what
Speaker 1: he got from Greek sources, and that we no longer
Speaker 1: have all its metamorphoses are some of the most cinematic, detailed, beautiful,
Speaker 1: and so much more mythological retellings. They are so uniquely
Speaker 1: of it so good. Now, as I mentioned of it
Speaker 1: is Roman. He comes very late in the wide world
Speaker 1: of myths, and while he's definitely mostly talking about Greek myths,
Speaker 1: or at least stories that originate in Greek traditions, he
Speaker 1: is putting his Roman spin on it. He is making
Speaker 1: it very Ovidian. Of it isn't turned with conveying just
Speaker 1: the details of the myths. He's interested in looking at transformations, metamorphoses,
Speaker 1: and so sometimes those are played up or even invented,
Speaker 1: but funk if they aren't done so beautifully. That's all
Speaker 1: to say of it. It shouldn't be your go to
Speaker 1: source for Greek tradition, but it can be your go
Speaker 1: to source for fun and beautiful stories featuring these mythological characters.
Speaker 1: So with that, let's get right back to it. This
Speaker 1: is Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book one, translated by Brooks More Part too. Daphne,
Speaker 1: the daughter of a river god, was first beloved by Phoebus,
Speaker 1: the great god of glorious light. It was not a
Speaker 1: cause of chance, but out of Cupid's vengeful spite that
Speaker 1: she was faded to Torment, the lord of Light. For Phoebus,
Speaker 1: proud of Python's death, beheld that impish god of love.
Speaker 1: Upon a time when he was bending his diminished bow
Speaker 1: and voicing his contempt and anger, said, what, wanton boy,
Speaker 1: are mighty arms to the great weapons suited to the
Speaker 1: needs of war? The bow is only for the use
Speaker 1: of those large deities of heaven, whose strength may deal
Speaker 1: wounds mortal to the savage beasts of prey, and who
Speaker 1: courageous overcome their foes. It is a proper weapon to
Speaker 1: the use of such a slew with arrows, python huge,
Speaker 1: who is pestilential, arcas vast extent covered content yourself with
Speaker 1: the flames your torch and kindles fires too subtle for
Speaker 1: my thought, and leave to me the glory that is mine.
Speaker 1: To him undaunted, Venus's son replied, oh, Phoebus, that you
Speaker 1: can't conquer all the world with your strong bow and arrows.
Speaker 1: But with this small arrow, I shall pierce your vaunting breast,
Speaker 1: and by the measures that you might exceed the broken
Speaker 1: powers of your defeated foes. So is your glory less
Speaker 1: than mine? No more, he said, But with his wings expanded,
Speaker 1: Thence flew lightly to par Nassis's lofty peak. There, from
Speaker 1: his quiver he plucked two arrows most curiously wrought of
Speaker 1: different art, one love exciting, one repelling love. The dart
Speaker 1: of love was glittering, gold and sharp. The other how
Speaker 1: a blunted tip of lead. And with that dull lead
Speaker 1: dart he shot the nymph. But with the keen point
Speaker 1: of the golden dart he pierced the bone and marrow
Speaker 1: of the God. Immediately, the one with love was filled,
Speaker 1: the other, scowling at the thought of love, rejoiced in
Speaker 1: the deep shadow of the woods. And as the virgin
Speaker 1: Phoebe who denies the joys of love, and as the
Speaker 1: virgin Phoebe who denies the joys of love and loves
Speaker 1: the joys of chase. A maiden's filet bound with her
Speaker 1: flowing hair and her pure mind. Denied the love of
Speaker 1: man beloved and wooed, she wandered silent paths, for never
Speaker 1: could her modesty enjoy the glance of man or listen
Speaker 1: to his love. Her grieving father spoke to her, alas
Speaker 1: my daughter, I have wished a son in law, and
Speaker 1: now you owe a grandchild to the joy of my
Speaker 1: old age. But Daphne only hung her head to hide
Speaker 1: her shame. The nuptial torch seemed criminal to her. She
Speaker 1: even clung, caressing with her arms around his neck, and
Speaker 1: pled my dearest father, let me live a virgin always,
Speaker 1: For remember, Jove did grant it to Diana at her birth.
Speaker 1: But though her father promised her desire, her loveliness prevailed
Speaker 1: against their will. For Phoebus, when he saw her waxed,
Speaker 1: distraught and filled with wonder, his sick fancy raised delusive hopes,
Speaker 1: and his own oracles deceived him. As the stubble in
Speaker 1: the fields flare up, or as the stacked wheat is
Speaker 1: consumed by flames enkindled from a spark or torch, the
Speaker 1: chance pedestrian may neglect at dawn, so was the bosom
Speaker 1: of the god consumed, and so desire flamed in his
Speaker 1: stricken heart. He saw her bright hair waving down her neck,
Speaker 1: How beautiful if properly arranged. He saw her eyes like
Speaker 1: stars of sparkling fire, her lips for kissing sweetest, and
Speaker 1: her hands and fingers, and her arms, her shoulders white
Speaker 1: as ivory. And whatever was not seen more beautiful must
Speaker 1: be swift as the wind from his pursuing feet. The
Speaker 1: virgin fled and neither stopped nor heated, as he called, Oh,
Speaker 1: Nympho dafny. I entreat you stay. It is no enemy
Speaker 1: that follows you. Why so the lamb leaps from the
Speaker 1: raging wolf, and from the lion runs the timid fawn,
Speaker 1: and from the eagle flies the trembling dove. All hasten
Speaker 1: from their natural enemy. But I alone pursue for my
Speaker 1: dear love. Alas if you should fall and mar your face,
Speaker 1: or tear upon the bramble your soft thighs, or should
Speaker 1: I prove unwilling cause of pain. The wilderness is rough
Speaker 1: and dangerous, and I beseech you be more careful. I
Speaker 1: will follow slowly, Ask of whom you will, and you
Speaker 1: shall learn that I am not a churl. I am
Speaker 1: no mountain dweller of rude caves, nor clown compelled to
Speaker 1: watch the deep and goats. And neither can you know
Speaker 1: from whom your feet fly fearful, or you would not
Speaker 1: leave me like this the Delphic land, the Patarian realm
Speaker 1: claros and tanados revere my name, and my immortal father
Speaker 1: is Jupiter. The present, past and future are through me
Speaker 1: in sacred oracles revealed to man, and from my harp
Speaker 1: the harmonies of sound are borrowed by the bards to
Speaker 1: praise the gods. My bow is certain, but a flaming
Speaker 1: shafts are passing mine has pierced my heart untouched before.
Speaker 1: The art of medicine is my invention and the power
Speaker 1: of herbs. But though the world declares my useful works,
Speaker 1: there is no herb to medicate my wound. And all
Speaker 1: the arts that save have failed their lord. But even
Speaker 1: as he made his plaint, the nymph, with timid footsteps,
Speaker 1: fled from his approach and left him to his murmurs
Speaker 1: and his pain. Lovely the virgin seemed. As the soft
Speaker 1: wind exposed her limbs, and as the zephyrs fawned, fluttering
Speaker 1: amid her garments, and the breeze fanned lightly in her
Speaker 1: flowing hair, she seemed most lovely to his fancy in
Speaker 1: her flight, and mad with love, he followed in her steps,
Speaker 1: and silent hastened his increasing speed, as when the greyhound
Speaker 1: sees the frightened hair flit over the plane, with eager
Speaker 1: nose outstretched. Impetuous, he rushes on his prey and gains
Speaker 1: upon her till he treads her feet and almost fastens
Speaker 1: in her side his fangs. But she, while dreading that
Speaker 1: her end is near, is suddenly delivered from her fright,
Speaker 1: So was it the God and virgin one with hope
Speaker 1: pursued the other fled in fear, and he who followed,
Speaker 1: borne on wings of love, permitted her no rest and
Speaker 1: gained on her until his warm breath mingled in her hair.
Speaker 1: Her strength spent, pale and faint, With pleading eyes, she
Speaker 1: gazed upon her father's waves and prayed, help me, my father,
Speaker 1: if you're flowing streams, have virtue, cover me, Oh Mother Earth,
Speaker 1: destroy the beauty that has injured me, or changed the
Speaker 1: body that destroys my life. Before her prayer was ended,
Speaker 1: toward per seized on all her body, and a thin
Speaker 1: bark closed around her gentle bosom, and her hair became
Speaker 1: as moving leaves. Her arms were changed to waving branches,
Speaker 1: and her active feet as clinging roots, were fastened to
Speaker 1: the ground. Her face was hidden with encircling leaves. Phoebus
Speaker 1: admired and loved the graceful tree for still, though changed,
Speaker 1: her slender form remained, and with his right hand lingering
Speaker 1: on the trunk, he felt her bosom throbbing in the bark.
Speaker 1: He clung to trunk and branches, though to twine his
Speaker 1: form with hers, and fondly kissed the wood, the trunk
Speaker 1: from every kiss. And thus the God said, although you
Speaker 1: can't be my bride, you shall be called my chosen tree.
Speaker 1: And your green leaves, oh Laurel, shall forever crown my brows,
Speaker 1: be wreathed around my quiver and my lyre. The Roman
Speaker 1: heroes shall be crowned with you, as long processions climb
Speaker 1: the capital, and chanting throngs proclaim their victories, and as
Speaker 1: a faithful ward, and you shall guard the civic crown
Speaker 1: of oak leaves fixed between your branches, and before augustin gates.
Speaker 1: And as my youthful head is never shorn, so also
Speaker 1: shall you ever bear your leaves unchanging to your glory.
Speaker 1: He or the god Phoebus Apollo, ended his lament, and
Speaker 1: unto him the Laurel bent her bows so lately fashioned,
Speaker 1: and it seemed to him her graceful nod gave answer
Speaker 1: to his love. There is a grove in Thessaly enclosed
Speaker 1: on every side with craigs precipitous, on which a forest grows,
Speaker 1: and this is called the Veil of Tempe. Through this
Speaker 1: valley flows the river Penneas, white with foaming waves that
Speaker 1: issue from the foot of Pendus, whence, with sudden fall
Speaker 1: gathers steamy clouds that sprinkle mist upon the circling trees,
Speaker 1: and far away with mighty roar resound. It is the abode,
Speaker 1: the solitary home that mighty river loves, where deep in
Speaker 1: gloom of rocky cavern he resides and rules the flowing
Speaker 1: waves and the water nymphs, abiding there all rivers of
Speaker 1: that land now hastened there doubtful to console, ol or
Speaker 1: flatter Daphne's parent, popular crowned spur Kios, swift Onippius, and
Speaker 1: the wild Emphrissos, old Epodanus and i S, with all
Speaker 1: their kindred streams, that wandering maze and wearied seek the ocean.
Speaker 1: Inachis alone is absent, hidden in his cave, obscure, deepening
Speaker 1: his waters with his tears, most wretchedly bewailing, for he
Speaker 1: deems his daughter Io lost. If she may live or
Speaker 1: roam a spirit in the nether shades, he dares not
Speaker 1: even guess, but dreads, for Jove not long before, had
Speaker 1: seen her while returning from her father's stream, and said, oh, virgin,
Speaker 1: worthy of immortal Jove. Although some happy mortals chosen bride,
Speaker 1: behold these shades of overhanging trees and seek their cool
Speaker 1: recess is while the sun is glowing in the height
Speaker 1: of middle skies. And as he spoke, he pointed out
Speaker 1: the groves. But should the dens of wild beasts frighten you,
Speaker 1: with safety, you may enter the deep woods conducted by
Speaker 1: a god. Not with a god of small repute, but
Speaker 1: in the care of him who holds the heavenly scepter
Speaker 1: in his hand and fulminates the trackless thunderbolts forsake me. Not,
Speaker 1: for while he spoke, she fled and swiftly left behind
Speaker 1: the pasture fields of Lerna and lar Kia's arbors, where
Speaker 1: the trees are planted thickly. But the god called forth
Speaker 1: a heavy shadow, which involved the wide extended Earth, and
Speaker 1: stopped her flight and ravished in that cloud her chastity. Meanwhile,
Speaker 1: the goddess Juno, gazing down on Earth's expanse with wonder,
Speaker 1: saw the clouds as dark as night enfold those middle
Speaker 1: fields while day was bright above. She was convinced the
Speaker 1: clouds were none composed of river mist, nor raised from
Speaker 1: marshy fens. Suspicious now from oft detected amours of her spouse.
Speaker 1: She glanced around to find her absent lord, and quite
Speaker 1: convinced that he was far from heaven. She thus exclaimed,
Speaker 1: this cloud deceives my mind, or Jove has wronged me
Speaker 1: from the dome of heaven. She glided down and stood
Speaker 1: upon the earth, and aid the clouds recede. But Jove
Speaker 1: had known the coming of his queen. He had transformed
Speaker 1: the lovely Ioh so that she appeared a milk white heifer,
Speaker 1: formed so beautiful and fair that envious Juno gazed upon her.
Speaker 1: She queried, Who's what? Heard what past your fields, as
Speaker 1: if she guessed no knowledge of the truth, And Jupiter, falsehearted,
Speaker 1: said the cow was earth begotten, for he feared his
Speaker 1: queen might make inquiry of the owner's name. Juno implored
Speaker 1: the heifer as a gift. What then was left the
Speaker 1: father of the gods. It would be a cruel thing
Speaker 1: to sacrifice his own beloved to arrival's wrath, although refusal
Speaker 1: must imply his guilt. The shame and love of her
Speaker 1: almost prevailed. But if a present of such little worth
Speaker 1: were now denied the sharer of his couch, the partner
Speaker 1: of his birth, it would prove indeed the earth born
Speaker 1: heifer other than she seemed, and so he gave his
Speaker 1: mistress up to her. Juno, regardful of Jove's cunning art,
Speaker 1: lest he might change her to her human form, gave
Speaker 1: the unhappy effort to the charge of Argus air Astorites,
Speaker 1: whose head was circled with a hundred glowing eyes, of
Speaker 1: which but two did slumber in their turn, whilst the
Speaker 1: others kept on watch and guard. Whichever way he stood,
Speaker 1: his gaze was fixed on Io. Even if he turned away,
Speaker 1: his watchful eyes on Io still remained. He let her
Speaker 1: feed by day, but when the sun was under the
Speaker 1: deep world, he shut her up and tied a rope
Speaker 1: around her tender neck. She fed upon green leaves and
Speaker 1: bitter herbs, and on the cold ground, slept too often
Speaker 1: bare she could not rest upon a cushioned couch. She
Speaker 1: drank the troubled waters, hoping aids. She tried to stretch,
Speaker 1: imploring arms to our us, but all in vain. For
Speaker 1: now no arms remained. The sound of bellowing was all
Speaker 1: she heard, and she was frightened with her proper voice.
Speaker 1: Where former days she loved to roam and sport, she
Speaker 1: wandered by the banks of Anakis. They are imaged in
Speaker 1: the stream. She saw her horns and startled, turned and fled.
Speaker 1: And Annakis and all her sister Naiads knew her not,
Speaker 1: although she followed them. They knew her not, although she
Speaker 1: suffered them to touch her sides and praise her. When
Speaker 1: the ancient Anachus gathered sweet herbs and offered them to her,
Speaker 1: she licked his hands, kissing her father's palms. Nor could
Speaker 1: she more restrain her falling tears. If only words, as
Speaker 1: well as tears, would flow, she might implore his aid
Speaker 1: and tell her name and all her sad misfortune. But
Speaker 1: instead she traced in dust the letters of her name
Speaker 1: with cloven hoof I, and thus her sad estate was known.
Speaker 1: Wretched me, her father cried, and as he clung around
Speaker 1: her horns and neck, repeated while she groaned, Ah, wretched me,
Speaker 1: are you my daughter? Sought in every climb when lost,
Speaker 1: I could not grieve for you, as now that you
Speaker 1: are found your size. Instead of words heave up from
Speaker 1: your deep breast. Your longings give me answer. I prepared
Speaker 1: the nuptial torch and bridal chamber in my ignorance since
Speaker 1: my first hope was for a son in law, and
Speaker 1: then I dreamed of children from the match. But now
Speaker 1: the Herd may furnish you a mate, and all your
Speaker 1: issue of the herd must be Oh, that a righteous
Speaker 1: death would end my grief. It is a dreadful thing
Speaker 1: to be a god. Behold, the lethal gate of death
Speaker 1: is shut against me, and my growing grief must last
Speaker 1: throughout eternity. While thus he Mo came starry Argus there
Speaker 1: and Io bore from her lamenting father. Thence he led
Speaker 1: his charge to other pastures, and removed from her. Upon
Speaker 1: a lofty mountain, sat, whence he could always watch her undisturbed.
Speaker 1: The sovereign God could no longer endure to witness Io's woes.
Speaker 1: He called his son, who maya brightest of the Pleiades,
Speaker 1: brought forth, and bade him slay the star eyed guard Argus.
Speaker 1: He seized his sleep compelling wand, and fastened waving wings
Speaker 1: on his swift feet, and deftly fixed his brimmed hat
Speaker 1: on his head. Low Mercury, the favored son of Jove,
Speaker 1: descending to the Earth from heaven's planes, put off his
Speaker 1: cap and wings, though still retained his wand, with which
Speaker 1: he drove through pathless wild some stray she goats, and
Speaker 1: as a shepherd faired piping on oaten reads melodious tunes. Argus,
Speaker 1: delighted with the charming sound of this new art, began,
Speaker 1: Whoever you are, sit with me on this stone, beneath
Speaker 1: the trees and cooling shade, while brows the tended flock
Speaker 1: abundant herbs. For you can see the shade is fit
Speaker 1: for shepherds. Wherefore Mercury sat down beside the keeper and
Speaker 1: conversed of various things passing the laggard hours. Then soothely
Speaker 1: piped he on the joined reads to lull those ever
Speaker 1: watchful eyes asleep. But our gust drove his languor to subdue.
Speaker 1: And though some drowsy eyes might slumber, still were some
Speaker 1: that vigil kept. Again, he spoke, for the pipes were
Speaker 1: yet a recent art. I pray you tell what chance
Speaker 1: discovered these to him? The god a famous Naiad dwelt
Speaker 1: among the hammer dryads on the coal d Arcadians summit.
Speaker 1: Nona Chris, whose name was Syrinx. Often she escaped the
Speaker 1: gods that wandering in the grove of Sylvan shades, and
Speaker 1: often fled from satyrs that pursued, vowing virginity. In all pursuits,
Speaker 1: she strove to emulate Diana's ways, And as that graceful
Speaker 1: goddess wears her robe, so Syrinx girded hers that one
Speaker 1: might well believe Diana there, even though her bow were
Speaker 1: made of horn, Diana's brought of gold, that might she
Speaker 1: well deceived. Now chanced it. Pan, whose head was girt
Speaker 1: with prickly pines, espied the nymph returning from the Lychean hill,
Speaker 1: and these words uttered he, but Mercury refrained from further speech,
Speaker 1: and Pan's appeal remains untold. But if he had told
Speaker 1: it all, the tale of Syrinx would have followed. Thus,
Speaker 1: but she despised the prayers of Pan and fled through
Speaker 1: pathless wilds until she had arrived the lacid laid on
Speaker 1: sandy stream, whose waves prevented her escape. There, she implored
Speaker 1: her sister nymphs to change her form, and Pan, believing
Speaker 1: he had caught her, held instead some marsh reeds for
Speaker 1: the body of the nymph, and while he sighed, the
Speaker 1: moving winds began to utter plaintive music in the reeds.
Speaker 1: So sweet and voice like that, Poor Pan, exclaimed forever.
Speaker 1: This discovery shall remain a sweet communion, binding you to me.
Speaker 1: And this explains why reads of different length when joined
Speaker 1: together by cementing wax, derived the name of Syrinx from
Speaker 1: the maid. Such words the bright god Mercury would say.
Speaker 1: But now perceiving, Argus's eyes were dimmed in languorous doze.
Speaker 1: He hushed his voice and touched the drooping eyelids with
Speaker 1: his magic wand compelling slumber. Then, without delay, he struck
Speaker 1: the sleeper with his crescent sword where neck and head unite,
Speaker 1: and hurled his head, blood dripping down the rocks and
Speaker 1: rugged cliff low lies. Augus dark is the light of
Speaker 1: all his hundred eyes, his many orbed lights extinguished in
Speaker 1: the universal gloom that night surrounds. But Saturn's daughter spread
Speaker 1: their glister on the feathers of her bird, emblazoning its
Speaker 1: tail with starry gems. Juno made haste inflamed with towering
Speaker 1: rage to vent her wrath on Io, and she raised
Speaker 1: in thought and vision of the Grecian girl in dreadful fury,
Speaker 1: stings invisible and pitiless, she planted in her breast and
Speaker 1: drove her wandering throughout the globe. The utmost limit of
Speaker 1: her labored way, Oh nile, you did remain, which, having
Speaker 1: reached and placed her tired knees on that river's edge,
Speaker 1: she laid her there, and as she raised her neck,
Speaker 1: looked upward to the stars, and groaned and wept, mournfully bellowed,
Speaker 1: trying thus to plead by all the means she had,
Speaker 1: that Jupiter might end her miseries. Repentant Jove embraced his
Speaker 1: consort and entreated her to end the punishment. Fear not,
Speaker 1: he said, for she shall trouble you no more. He spoke,
Speaker 1: and called on bitter sticks to hear his oath. And
Speaker 1: now Imperial Juno pacified, permitted Io to resume her form.
Speaker 1: At once. The hair fell from her snowy sides, the
Speaker 1: horns absorbed, her dilate orbs decreased, the opening of her
Speaker 1: jaws contracted, hands appeared, and shoulders and each transformed hoof
Speaker 1: became five nails, and every mark or form that gave
Speaker 1: the semblance of a heifer changed except her fair white skin.
Speaker 1: The glad nymph was raised erect and stood upon her feet.
Speaker 1: But long the very thought of speech, that she might
Speaker 1: bellow as a heifer filled her mind with terror, till
Speaker 1: the words so long forgot for some sufficient cause were
Speaker 1: tried once more. And since that time the linen wearing
Speaker 1: throng of Egypt have adored her as a god, for
Speaker 1: they believe the seeds of Jove prevailed. And when her
Speaker 1: time was due, she bore to him a son called Epithus,
Speaker 1: who also dwells in temples with his mother in that land. Now, Fithon,
Speaker 1: whose father was the son, was equal to his rival
Speaker 1: Epithus in mind and years, and he was glad to
Speaker 1: boast of wonders. Nor would yield to Epithus for pride
Speaker 1: of Phoebus, his reputed sire. Unable to endure it, Io's
Speaker 1: son thus mocked him. Poor, demand did, fellow, what will
Speaker 1: you not credit if your mother speaks? You are so
Speaker 1: puffed up with the fond conceit of your imagine sire,
Speaker 1: the lord of day shame crimsoned in his cheeks. But Fithon,
Speaker 1: withholding rage, reported all the taunts of Epithus to Clymini,
Speaker 1: his mother. It will grieve you, mother, I the bold
Speaker 1: and free, was silent. And if shames me to report
Speaker 1: this dark reproach, remain unchallenged, Oh if I am born
Speaker 1: of a race divine, give proof of that illustrious descent,
Speaker 1: and claim my right to heaven. Around his mother's neck,
Speaker 1: he drew his arms, and by the head of Marops,
Speaker 1: and by his own, and by the nuptial torch of
Speaker 1: his beloved sisters, he implored for some true token of
Speaker 1: his origin. If moved by Fithon's importuned words or by
Speaker 1: the grievous charge, who might declare, she raised her arms
Speaker 1: to heaven, and, gazing full upon this odd son, said,
Speaker 1: I swear to you by yonder orb so radiant and bright,
Speaker 1: which both beholds and hears us while we speak, that
Speaker 1: you are his begotten son. You are the child of
Speaker 1: that great light which sways the world. And if I
Speaker 1: have not spoken what is true, let not my eyes
Speaker 1: behold his countenance. And let this fatal moment be the
Speaker 1: last that I shall look upon the light of day.
Speaker 1: Nor will it wear are you, my son, to reach
Speaker 1: your father's dwelling, For the very place where he appears
Speaker 1: at dawn is near our land. Go, if it please you,
Speaker 1: and the very truth learn from your father. Instantly sprang forth,
Speaker 1: exultant Fithon, overjoyed with words so welcome, he imagined he
Speaker 1: could leap and touch the skies, And so he passed
Speaker 1: his land of Ethiopia and the indies hot beneath the
Speaker 1: tawny sun, and there he turned his footsteps to his
Speaker 1: father's land of dawn. Oh, nerds, nerds, nerds, How fun
Speaker 1: is this book? I know, I know, I talked about it,
Speaker 1: how much I love this book so much, But it's
Speaker 1: just super true. The first half of book wont to
Speaker 1: be a little dry, but this second half, oh my god,
Speaker 1: finally we're into the really juicy stuff. The myths you know,
Speaker 1: some that you don't, all of them involving trauma for women,
Speaker 1: good times, and all versions as interpreted by this Roman poet.
Speaker 1: A Roman poet who's writing his own spin on Greek
Speaker 1: traditions on transformations. Obviously, the purpose of this work is
Speaker 1: to look at transformations, usually human or divine, and how
Speaker 1: they fit in with wider mythologies. Just remember, off, it
Speaker 1: wasn't writing this to record Greek traditional st worries. It
Speaker 1: isn't like the oral storytelling I'm always harping on. This
Speaker 1: was of it writing a work of poetry based on mythology.
Speaker 1: He wasn't even recording Roman traditions to be clear, like,
Speaker 1: this is poetry based on mythology. He wrote it in
Speaker 1: a book doesn't make it in less beautiful, but it
Speaker 1: is important context when you're trying to understand how his
Speaker 1: version of things fits in with the wider traditions the stories.
Speaker 1: More broadly, consider this more fiction based on mythology plus
Speaker 1: just interesting, you know. And he was writing at the
Speaker 1: same time as Virgil was writing Me and need Like.
Speaker 1: Both were ostensibly writing their works to honor Augustus, but
Speaker 1: Avid was eventually exiled by that same Augustus. Who's to
Speaker 1: say how he really felt. Still, that's the timeline, and
Speaker 1: next time Havid tells us this full story of Fithon
Speaker 1: that he just started hinting at at the end of
Speaker 1: book one, along with some of the more considerably tragic
Speaker 1: and traumatic God human relationships. Let's talk about its maybe
Speaker 1: has written and produce by me Live Albert my Cayles
Speaker 1: Smith is the Hermies to my Olympians and handled so
Speaker 1: many podcast related things. She's the best. I couldn't do
Speaker 1: it without her. At this point, Stephanie fully works to
Speaker 1: transcribe the podcast for YouTube captions and accessibility. She too
Speaker 1: is invaluable. The podcast is hosted and monetized by a
Speaker 1: cast off. It's just so fun, you know, I am
Speaker 1: live and I love this ship.