Apollodorus’ Library is a reference work in which authors and poets can obtain information about Greek mythology to discuss in a paper or poem. Ovid’s Metamorphoses is a work of literature which contains many poems about Greek mythology. Ovid’s Metamorphoses would be a work of literature in which the author would get the small details of the god or goddess’s life from Apollodorus’ Library. These small details would help to fill in the blanks of the god or goddess’s life so that the reader would be able to understand the myth better. This paper will discuss the myth of the Rape of Persephone and compare the similarities in the information presented in Apollodorus’ Library and in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, while also discussing the information added
…show more content…
In the information given by Apollodorus, he refers to Demeter as Demeter, whereas Ovid refers to her as Ceres. Ovid says “Ceres first turned the earth with the curved plough; she first gave corn and crops to bless the land; she first gave laws; all things are Ceres’ gift” (Ovid, 109). In Ovid’s account of the Rape of Persephone, he adds information about Cupid, Hades, Persephone, and introduces a nymph named Cyane. However, although he does add information he also subtracts information given in Apollodorus’ Library. In Apollodorus’ Library Demeter learns from the people of Hermion that Persephone has been kidnapped. However, in Ovid, she discovers a piece of Persephone’s clothing from Cyane and from the clothing, she is able to learn that her daughter has been kidnapped. It says “she showed the well-known sash which Persephone had chanced to drop there in the sacred spring. How well the goddess knew it! Then at last she seemed to understand her child was stolen” (Ovid, 113). With this change in information, Ovid is able to add poetic detail and emotion so that the reader is able to relate to the feelings Demeter is experiencing from the loss of her child. The information presented in Apollodorus’ Library is lacking in emotion. Ovid also adds in the detail of Cupid, Venus’ …show more content…
Apollodorus went into detail about Demeter nursing the child and then deciding to make him immortal. She throws him into the fire to immortalize him and when his mother finds out she cries out and Demophon is killed in the fire. Ovid decided not to mention the story of Demophon and Demeter. Instead, he offers an account of a little boy laughing at Demeter for drinking her barely-flavored drink and calls her greedy. This greatly upsets her so she transforms him into a lizard or newt as revenge. It
In the information given by Apollodorus, he refers to Demeter as Demeter, whereas Ovid refers to her as Ceres. Ovid says “Ceres first turned the earth with the curved plough; she first gave corn and crops to bless the land; she first gave laws; all things are Ceres’ gift” (Ovid, 109). In Ovid’s account of the Rape of Persephone, he adds information about Cupid, Hades, Persephone, and introduces a nymph named Cyane. However, although he does add information he also subtracts information given in Apollodorus’ Library. In Apollodorus’ Library Demeter learns from the people of Hermion that Persephone has been kidnapped. However, in Ovid, she discovers a piece of Persephone’s clothing from Cyane and from the clothing, she is able to learn that her daughter has been kidnapped. It says “she showed the well-known sash which Persephone had chanced to drop there in the sacred spring. How well the goddess knew it! Then at last she seemed to understand her child was stolen” (Ovid, 113). With this change in information, Ovid is able to add poetic detail and emotion so that the reader is able to relate to the feelings Demeter is experiencing from the loss of her child. The information presented in Apollodorus’ Library is lacking in emotion. Ovid also adds in the detail of Cupid, Venus’ …show more content…
Apollodorus went into detail about Demeter nursing the child and then deciding to make him immortal. She throws him into the fire to immortalize him and when his mother finds out she cries out and Demophon is killed in the fire. Ovid decided not to mention the story of Demophon and Demeter. Instead, he offers an account of a little boy laughing at Demeter for drinking her barely-flavored drink and calls her greedy. This greatly upsets her so she transforms him into a lizard or newt as revenge. It