Ovid's Ars Amatoria: Female Instruction and Construction in Augustan Rome

Elegy is one of the most significant genres of Roman literature, serving as a subject of focus for a large amount of secondary scholarship. Elegies, or poems written in elegiac couplets, are frequently centered around the theme of love, with poets describing their romantic encounters and love affairs to entertain their audience. Ovid, one of the most notable Roman elegists, took advantage of the genre of elegy in the production of his Ars Amatoria, which provides instructions to men and women regarding the arts of love and beauty. The directions Ovid gives in the Ars Amatoria provide insight into his perspective on not only the ideal romantic relationship but also the ideal Roman woman. In assigning himself the role of teacher in the Ars Amatoria, Ovid ultimately works to replicate the romantic relationships exhibited in elegy in the reality of Augustan Rome. To accomplish this, Ovid depicts love and beauty as art forms that his audience can, and should, become well versed in through adherence to his instructions. This advice is strictly gendered, reiterating the notion that men should focus on pursuing women and that women should focus on appearing attractive to men. Ovid’s guidance for women consequently works to construct an idealized Roman woman whose character and physical appearance appeal to potential suitors. While Ovid’s portrayal of women tends to defy the prescribed status of women in Augustan society, it still reinforces the traditional depiction of women as submissive, beauty-centered individuals. Existing secondary scholarship has thoroughly explored this topic, but there has been little consideration of the practicality of Ovid’s advice in the context of Augustan Rome. Ovid rejects various attitudes present in the social norms and legislation of Augustan society, but this is precisely what makes his advice impractical in this context. Although Ovid’s intentions are clear, the relationships depicted in his elegies could not have been properly replicated in the reality of Augustan Rome.