Ovid Books
Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso, 43 BCE–17/18 CE) was a Roman poet of the Augustan age, celebrated for his elegiac works such as Amores, Ars Amatoria, and Metamorphoses. Renowned for his wit and sophistication, Ovid was exiled by Emperor Augustus and spent his final years in Tomis, on the Black Sea coast (modern Constanța, Romania).
Known for: The Art of Love
Books by Ovid
The Art of Love
The Art of Love is a didactic poem by the Roman poet Ovid, written around 2 BCE. Composed in three books, it offers witty and ironic instruction on the arts of love and seduction—two books addressed to men and one to women. The work provides a vivid portrayal of Roman social and moral life, blending elegance, humor, and insight into human relationships.
Read SummaryKey Insights from Ovid
Book I: How to Begin—Finding and Winning the Heart
I begin by invoking Venus, the goddess of love, and her mischievous son, Cupid. They are my patrons and my muses, for theirs is the dominion I claim to chart. The opening of my first book is a pledge—I will teach the arts of conquest in love, the same way generals learn tactics and poets their craft...
From The Art of Love
Book II: Sustaining the Flame—The Art of Keeping Love
Having guided the novice through the pursuit, I now turn to the subtler labor: how to keep what has been won. The thrill of conquest may fade, but the true lover understands that the maintenance of affection is a second, greater art. Here I teach not strategy, but sensitivity. Possession is the ene...
From The Art of Love
About Ovid
Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso, 43 BCE–17/18 CE) was a Roman poet of the Augustan age, celebrated for his elegiac works such as Amores, Ars Amatoria, and Metamorphoses. Renowned for his wit and sophistication, Ovid was exiled by Emperor Augustus and spent his final years in Tomis, on the Black Sea coast...
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Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso, 43 BCE–17/18 CE) was a Roman poet of the Augustan age, celebrated for his elegiac works such as Amores, Ars Amatoria, and Metamorphoses. Renowned for his wit and sophistication, Ovid was exiled by Emperor Augustus and spent his final years in Tomis, on the Black Sea coast...
Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso, 43 BCE–17/18 CE) was a Roman poet of the Augustan age, celebrated for his elegiac works such as Amores, Ars Amatoria, and Metamorphoses. Renowned for his wit and sophistication, Ovid was exiled by Emperor Augustus and spent his final years in Tomis, on the Black Sea coast (modern Constanța, Romania).
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Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso, 43 BCE–17/18 CE) was a Roman poet of the Augustan age, celebrated for his elegiac works such as Amores, Ars Amatoria, and Metamorphoses. Renowned for his wit and sophistication, Ovid was exiled by Emperor Augustus and spent his final years in Tomis, on the Black Sea coast (modern Constanța, Romania).
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