I finished Ovid's Metamorphoses last night. (McCarter translation)
I expected mythology but I was surprised by the amount of magic. Like, woman with wild hair in the woods at night with a wand and cauldron, mixing herbs and casting spells.
I guess I had associated that with more Germanic (Grimm fairy tales) literature. Apparently a lot of that imagery comes from Rome.
@ryanpendell@bookstodon oh, I recently read that as well! What was your favorite tale?
I liked Icarus because I was surprised by all the small details that are omitted in modern references (literally shortened to just "he flew too Clos to the sun"). And the proto-Romeo-and-Juliet and the nymph that turns into a sunflower
I liked when Pythagoras randomly shows up at the end for a rant on vegetarianism. (After reading stories about people turning into animals it kind of makes sense)
I agree the Icarus story was very vivid and emotional. It does sound kind of cliché, but it really was one of the best stories in the book.
I really loved The House of Sleep and the House of Rumor.
And the king who had a single lock of purple hair that made him invincible.
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