The Influence of Ars Amatoria 1 on Heroides 16: Paris Follows Ovid’s Advice

Abstract

In his Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love), Publius Ovidius Naso, who describes himself as a teacher of love (praeceptor amoris), claims to teach young Roman men and women how to be good lovers: In book one the poet shows a man how to win the love of a woman, in book two he shows how to keep her, and in book three he teaches a woman how to succeed in love. The relationship between Ars Amatoria and Heroides-double letters, which composes of the mythological love letters, make scholars think the poet composed the letters as a practice of his advice: In Heroides-double letters the poet makes his mythological heroes and heroines treat as lovers who follow his advice given in Ars Amatoria. In this study, to fortify this opinion, first it will be briefly mentioned how the poet handles the tale of Paris and Helen in his Ars Amatoria and Heroides. Then, it will be examined how Paris applies the advice given in the first book of Ars Amatoria, in his letter (Heroides 16) to persuade Helen to flee with him

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