fasti Flashcards
(3 cards)
the figure of janus in the fasti
in fasti 1.90: asserts that there is no greek equivalent to Janus who is characterised by their simultaneous foresight and hindsight - in that sense his duplicity is distinctly roman
the speakers instinctual reaction to Janus is fear, not awe as with the other gods (compare with Juno who is famously hostile to romans but takes pains to take away the speakers fear and put him at peace in 6.18) - confronted with his pernicious variability
conflated with the figure of chaos - when he receives the first sacrifices of the year, they are received by the embodiment of chaos (1.171)
by giving one deity two names - one contemporary and roman, one primordial - he dissolves the distinction between those periods but also renders the distinction between the two meaningless
6.124 - Janus is responsible for the cycle of misfortune thrust upon Carna- he lurks in the background of horror as an unfeeling and insidious other
the figure of carna in the fasti
mythological example of an individual which Ovid conflates with others and goes by multiple names - her changeability lends her a universality
anonymous victim of unfortunate circumstances - endlessly identifiable
compare for his treatment of the names of months - for every correct name he gives, he also gives several different justifications and definitions without asserting which is true. with the lack of clarity - the names of the months are rendered arbitrary
eg: opening of book 6 - encourages reader to choose the explanation they find most pleasing
ovid’s relationship with the muse
ovid displaces the muse and professes to sing for himself (6.3: ‘facta canem’)
but also passes this power down to his readers - imploring them to choose amongst his explanations for he names of the months, based on which pleases them most
