The Moralized Ovid

The Moralized Ovid is a medieval allegorical interpretation of Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated into English for the first time. It was written in 1340 by Pierre Bersuire and was widely influential in the High Middle Ages. It provides a window into the reception of classical literature and vivid details of daily life in the Middle Ages. This edition presents the first full English translation alongside an authoritative Latin text.

Format: Hardback
Length: 848 pages
Publication date: 24 October 2023
Publisher: Harvard University Press

An influential medieval allegorical interpretation of Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated into English for the first time, unveils the hidden moral truths within the stories. Written in approximately 1340 in Avignon by the Benedictine preacher Pierre Bersuire, The Moralized Ovid, commonly known as Ovidius moralizatus to distinguish it from the anonymous French vernacular Ovide moralisé, stands as one of the most influential interpretations of Ovid's Metamorphoses during the High Middle Ages. Widely circulated in manuscript form and frequently printed during the Renaissance, The Moralized Ovid offers a captivating glimpse into the reception of classical literature in the fourteenth century, as well as remarkably vivid details of daily life in the Middle Ages across various social strata.

The work begins with a comprehensive description of the Greco-Roman gods, drawing inspiration from Bersuire's friend and fellow advocate of classical poetry, Francesco Petrarch. It then retells selected major myths from Ovid's Metamorphoses, each followed by numerous allegorical interpretations that draw from biblical stories, contemporary events, and the natural world.

This edition presents the first full English translation alongside an authoritative Latin text, making it an invaluable resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike.

Dimension: 203 x 133 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674290846