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Metamorphoses · Chapters

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Chapter companions for Metamorphoses by Ovid.

Each chapter has a companion in the reader — open a free preview to see notes beside the text.

  1. Chapter 1

    Book I

    The chapter begins with the creation of the world from Chaos, the ordering of the universe, and the creation of animals and humans. It then describes the Four Ages of Man, the Giants' War, and Jupiter's decision to punish humanity for its wickedness, culminating in the story of Lycaon's transformation into a wolf and the great flood that destroys all but Deucalion and Pyrrha.

  2. Chapter 2

    Creation of the World

    The chapter describes the formation of the world from Chaos by a divine power, establishing the harmonious order of the universe. It details the separation of earth, air, fire, and water, the creation of the zones, winds, stars, and the filling of the world with gods, beasts, birds, and fish. Finally, man is created as a superior being, looking upward to the heavens.

  3. Chapter 3

    Golden Age

    During the reign of Saturn, humanity lives in a state of primeval happiness, guided by uncorrupted reason and innate goodness, without laws, punishment, or fear. The earth provides abundantly without cultivation, and there is no war, travel, or toil—only peace, simplicity, and natural abundance.

  4. Chapter 4

    Silver Age

    The Silver Age begins after Saturn's banishment and Jove's ascension. The earth degenerates, seasons become distinct, and mortals must labor and seek shelter from harsh weather, marking a decline from the Golden Age.

  5. Chapter 5

    Brazen Age

    The Brazen Age is introduced as the third age of mankind, characterized by a warlike and aggressive nature, though not yet impious.

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  1. Chapter 6Iron Age
  2. Chapter 7Giants' War
  3. Chapter 8Transformation of Daphne Into a Laurel
  4. Chapter 9Transformation of Io Into a Heifer, and the Eyes of Argus Into a Peacock’s Train
  5. Chapter 10Transformation of Syrinx Into Reeds
  6. Chapter 11Book II
  7. Chapter 12Story of Phaeton
  8. Chapter 13Phaeton's Sisters Transformed Into Trees
  9. Chapter 14Transformation of Cycnus Into a Swan
  10. Chapter 15Story of Calisto
  11. Chapter 16Story of Coronis, and Birth of Esculapius
  12. Chapter 17Ocyrrhoe Transformed to a Mare
  13. Chapter 18Transformation of Battus to a Touchstone
  14. Chapter 19Story of Aglauros Transformed Into a Statue
  15. Chapter 20Europa's Rape
  16. Chapter 21Book III
  17. Chapter 22Story of Cadmus
  18. Chapter 23Transformation of Actaeon Into a Stag
  19. Chapter 24Birth of Bacchus
  20. Chapter 25Transformation of Echo
  21. Chapter 26Story of Narcissus
  22. Chapter 27Story of Pentheus
  23. Chapter 28Mariners Transformed to Dolphins
  24. Chapter 29Death of Pentheus
  25. Chapter 30Book IV
  26. Chapter 31Story of Alcithoe and Her Sisters
  27. Chapter 32Story of Pyramus and Thisbe
  28. Chapter 33Story of Leucothoe and the Sun
  29. Chapter 34Transformation of Clytie
  30. Chapter 35Story of Salmacis and Hermaphroditus
  31. Chapter 36Alcithoe and Her Sisters Transformed to Bats
  32. Chapter 37Transformation of Ino and Melicerta to Sea-Gods
  33. Chapter 38Transformation of the Theban Matrons
  34. Chapter 39Cadmus and His Queen Transformed Into Serpents
  35. Chapter 40Story of Perseus
  36. Chapter 41Atlas Transformed to a Mountain
  37. Chapter 42Andromeda Rescued from the Sea Monster
  38. Chapter 43Story of Medusa’s Head
  39. Chapter 44Book V
  40. Chapter 45Story of Perseus Continued
  41. Chapter 46Minerva's Interview with the Muses
  42. Chapter 47Fate of Pyreneus
  43. Chapter 48Story of the Pierides
  44. Chapter 49Song of the Pierides
  45. Chapter 50Song of the Muses
  46. Chapter 51Rape of Proserpine
  47. Chapter 52Cyane Dissolves to a Fountain
  48. Chapter 53Boy Transformed to an Eft
  49. Chapter 54Transformation of Ascalaphus Into an Owl
  50. Chapter 55Daughters of Achelous Transformed Into Sirens
  51. Chapter 56Story of Arethusa
  52. Chapter 57Transformation of Lyncus
  53. Chapter 58The Pierides Transformed to Magpies
  54. Chapter 59Book VI
  55. Chapter 60Transformation of Arachne Into a Spider
  56. Chapter 61Story of Niobe
  57. Chapter 62Transformation of Niobe
  58. Chapter 63Peasants of Lycia Transformed to Frogs
  59. Chapter 64Fate of Marsyas
  60. Chapter 65Story of Pelops
  61. Chapter 66Story of Tereus, Procne, and Philomela
  62. Chapter 67Boreas in Love
  63. Chapter 68Book VII
  64. Chapter 69Story of Medea and Jason
  65. Chapter 70Old Aeson Restored to Youth
  66. Chapter 71Death of Pelias
  67. Chapter 72Story of Aegeus
  68. Chapter 73Story of Ants Changed to Men
  69. Chapter 74Story of Cephalus and Procris
  70. Chapter 75Book VIII
  71. Chapter 76Story of Nisus and Scylla
  72. Chapter 77The Labyrinth
  73. Chapter 78Story of Daedalus and Icarus
  74. Chapter 79Story of Meleager and Atalanta
  75. Chapter 80Transformation of the Naiads
  76. Chapter 81Perimele Turned Into an Island
  77. Chapter 82Story of Baucis and Philemon
  78. Chapter 83Changes of Proteus
  79. Chapter 84Story of Erisichthon
  80. Chapter 85Description of Famine
  81. Chapter 86Transformations of Erisichthon's Daughter
  82. Chapter 87Book IX
  83. Chapter 88Story of Achelous and Hercules
  84. Chapter 89Death of Nessus the Centaur
  85. Chapter 90Death of Hercules
  86. Chapter 91Transformation of Lychas Into a Rock
  87. Chapter 92Apotheosis of Hercules
  88. Chapter 93Transformation of Galanthis
  89. Chapter 94Fable of Dryope
  90. Chapter 95Iolaus Restored to Youth
  91. Chapter 96Prophecy of Themis
  92. Chapter 97Debate of the Gods
  93. Chapter 98Passion of Byblis
  94. Chapter 99Fable of Iphis and Ianthe
  95. Chapter 100Book X: Orpheus and Eurydice
  96. Chapter 101Story of Orpheus and Eurydice
  97. Chapter 102Fable of Cyparissus
  98. Chapter 103Hyacinthus Transformed Into a Flower
  99. Chapter 104Transformations of the Cerastae and Propoetides
  100. Chapter 105Story of Pygmalion and the Statue
  101. Chapter 106Story of Venus and Adonis
  102. Chapter 107Book XI
  103. Chapter 108Death of Orpheus
  104. Chapter 109Thracian Women Transformed to Trees
  105. Chapter 110Fable of Midas
  106. Chapter 111Building of Troy
  107. Chapter 112Story of Thetis and Peleus
  108. Chapter 113Transformation of Daedalion
  109. Chapter 114A Wolf Turned Into Marble
  110. Chapter 115Story of Ceyx and Alcyone
  111. Chapter 116Aesacus Transformed Into a Cormorant
  112. Chapter 117Book XII
  113. Chapter 118Trojan War
  114. Chapter 119House of Fame
  115. Chapter 120Story of Cycnus
  116. Chapter 121Story of Caeneus
  117. Chapter 122Skirmish Between the Centaurs and Lapithites
  118. Chapter 123Story of Cyllarus and Hylonome
  119. Chapter 124Caeneus Transformed to an Eagle
  120. Chapter 125Fate of Periclymenos
  121. Chapter 126Death of Achilles
  122. Chapter 127Book XIII
  123. Chapter 128Speeches of Ajax and Ulysses
  124. Chapter 129Death of Ajax
  125. Chapter 130Story of Polyxena and Hecuba
  126. Chapter 131Funeral of Memnon
  127. Chapter 132Voyage of Aeneas
  128. Chapter 133Story of Acis, Polyphemus, and Galatea
  129. Chapter 134Story of Glaucus and Scylla
  130. Chapter 135Book XIV
  131. Chapter 136Transformation of Scylla
  132. Chapter 137Voyage of Aeneas Continued
  133. Chapter 138Transformation of Cercopians Into Apes
  134. Chapter 139Aeneas Descends to Hell
  135. Chapter 140Story of the Sibyl
  136. Chapter 141Adventures of Achaemenides
  137. Chapter 142Adventures of Macareus
  138. Chapter 143Story of Picus and Canens
  139. Chapter 144Aeneas Arrives in Italy
  140. Chapter 145Adventures of Diomedes
  141. Chapter 146Transformation of Appulus
  142. Chapter 147Trojan Ships Transformed to Sea Nymphs
  143. Chapter 148Deification of Aeneas
  144. Chapter 149Story of Vertumnus and Pomona
  145. Chapter 150Story of Iphis and Anaxarete
  146. Chapter 151Latian Line
  147. Chapter 152Assumption of Romulus
  148. Chapter 153Assumption of Hersilia
  149. Chapter 154Book XV
  150. Chapter 155Pythagorean Philosophy
  151. Chapter 156Story of Hippolytus
  152. Chapter 157Egeria Transformed to a Fountain
  153. Chapter 158Story of Cippus
  154. Chapter 159Occasion of Esculapius Being Brought to Rome
  155. Chapter 160Deification of Julius Caesar
  156. Chapter 161Reign of Augustus, in Which Ovid Flourished
  157. Chapter 162The Poet Concludes
  158. Chapter 163Endnotes