Abstract
M.A.
In this dissertation I aim to establish how Ovid uses the Rape of the
Sabine Women, part of the foundation myth of Rome, in the Ars Amatoria
I: 101-134 to maintain or restructure male-female relationships within
Roman patriarchal society. Furthermore, Ovid's legacy in the Middle Ages
and our modem society is briefly looked at.
This myth tells that Romulus and his men had a shortage of women in
their city as they were not considered suitable husbands by the men of
the surrounding tribes. In response to the ridicule of their neighbours,
Romulus held a celebration of the Consualia at which he and his men
seized the Sabine maidens, who would later become their wives.
A semiotic approach is used to understand how Ovid viewed existing
male-female relationships and to what end he would like to restructure
them.
Ovid understood the strength of this myth and retold it in order to
persuade his audience of his argument. In these lines Ovid explained to
the student-lover how and why to meet a woman at the Theatre. Through
the comparison of the ancient and the contemporary, his use of certain
words and figures of speech, Ovid attempted to convince his audience of
the effectiveness of the art of love he promoted: a contract of agreement
between two willing partners created by persuasion rather than force. He
displayed an amazing understanding of the human psyche, as well as the
violent, angry nature of rape. Ovid's novel approach has affected authors
of the Middle Ages, among them Geoffrey Chaucer, artists of the 'heroic
rape' genre and can even be discussed in relation to modem rape myths
and the modern concept of equity between the sexes introduced in the
Ars already. His style and subject matter has caused the analysis of his
work to be highly debated among many modem scholars.
It is my conclusion that Ovid wrote the Ars Amatoria with the intention of
restructuring male-female relationships in Roman society, promoting a
movement away from violence and unfulfilling relationships, typical of
the Roman marriage tradition. His work was so far reaching that he did
not only create a stir among his contemporaries, but instead he
influenced the development of the male-female relationship and
interaction over centuries.