OVID The Invasion of Troy

1. OVIDThe Invasion of Troy Book Twelve

2. OVID’S TRANSITION • In the previous story, we learn about Aesacus and his love for Hesperia • Aesacus follows her as she runs through the forest, but she is bit by a serpent • Aesacus feels guilty for her death, flings himself from a cliff • Tethys does not allow him to die • He is transformed into a bird, Mergus, or The Submerger

3. OVID’S TRANSITION • Priam mourns Aesacus’ death not knowing he is now a bird, his sons go to the tomb to bring sacrifice, all except Paris • Paris is the reason for the Trojan War, because of his love for Helen

4. HELEN • Helen is the daughter of Zeus and Leda, when Zeus visits her as a swan • All men wanted to marry Helen, Menelaus is chosen, and therefore becomes King of Sparta

6. Paris’s Decision • Paris was told to decide who the fairest was of Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera • He chose Aphrodite and was therefore granted Helen

7. PARIS AND HELEN • Paris then takes Helen back with him to Troy • Obviously this is going to anger Meneleus since he was married to Helen • Meneleus and Agamemnon gather troops for war

8. A SIGN • The men see a Blue-Green Serpent • The serpent goes up a tree toward a nest that held eight birds • The serpent killed the mother as well as her eight children • Calchas sees the meaning, claiming that the Greeks will win the war • However, he says that the war will last for nine years, since that was the number of the birds • The serpent was then changed to stone, in the form of a twining serpent

10. SACRIFICE OF IPHIGENIA • Virgin blood must satisfy the virgin goddess’ anger • Iphigenia was to be sacrificed because they believed Neptune would spare the city of Troy since he had built its walls • Diana yielded when Iphigenia was at the alter, and a deer was left in her place • Ocean subsided

11. Iphigenia

12. Rumor’s Dwelling • “Countless entrances, thousands on thousands, And never a door to close them.” • Everything that comes into this palace is repeated. • No quiet or silence • “Lies and truth, confused, confusing.” • She searches the world for news. • Since she is Rumor, she tells the Trojans that the Greeks are coming, allowing them to prepare for the conflict

13. Beginning of Battle • Protesilaus is the first killed by the arrow of Hector • Greeks were hurt in the earlier fighting • Hector did not meet Cygnus, son of Neptune, until the tenth year • Achilles’s spear cannot hurt Cygnus • Tenth layer kept the spear from harming him. • Achilles is very frustrated with this, to make sure there was nothing defective with the spear, he threw it at Menoetes and it killed him. • Achilles then gets down and fights Cygnus with sword, but is unable to do him any harm.

14. Cygnus • Cygnus is turned into a bird when Achilles is trying to choke him • Nepture changed him into a bird during this time to save him from death. • Now a constellation.

15. TRUCE • As the men begin to discuss the battle, the main topic was Cygnus and the fact that he could not be harmed. • Nestor continues by stating that long ago, there was another like Cygnus, by the name of Caeneus of Thessaly who also could not be harmed.

16. Caeneus of Thessaly • Born a Woman • Achilles begs to be told the story of Caeneus • Nestor states that he cannot remember all of the details because he is now in his third hundred year…

17. Caeneus • Began as Caenis, daughter of Elatus • Raped by Neptune, but then she asked to be turned into a male so that she would not be raped again. • Neptune also added that no man be able to hurt him.