As part of my seemingly endless research into a future Atlantis-themed book, I’m now reading Ovid’s “Metamorphoses,” which was something of an attempt to systemize the Greco-Roman Pantheon. It’s a lengthy poem that moves through various legends, which often result in transformations as nymphs are turned into trees and stuff.
As with other works, it’s interesting to read the pagan verses with a Christian sensibility, understanding the limitations of the gods and contrasting them with the omnipotence of God, who is also far more rational. The Roman gods are capricious, quarrelsome, and short on mercy, qualities I noticed when reading Bulfinch’s Mythology, which drew heavily from Ovid.
Reading it straight through gives a feel to the ebb and flow of the tale, much like reading Milton was superior to just reviewing excerpts. I’m still early into it, so I will reserve judgement until the end, but I will say that it’s much easier and entertaining than Milton.
Chateau Lloyd 
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