Enrico SIMONETTI (Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro)
Metamorfosi ‘in embrione’. L’epillio di Io nell’Eroide di Ipermestra (14,85-108) [‘Embryonic’ Metamorphosis: Io-Epyllion in Hypermestra’s Epistle (Ovid Heroides XIV 85-108)]
Keywords: Ovid, Io, Metamorphoses, Heroides, epyllion.
Abstract: ‘Embryonic’ Metamorphosis: Io-Epyllion in Hypermestra’s Epistle (Ovid Heroides XIV 85-108). The fourteenth of Ovid’s Heroides, written by Hypermestra to Lynceus, is particularly interesting for the epyllion that concern Io, Hypermestra’s ancestor (vv. 85-108): Io’s sad adventures are equated to Hypermestra’s oppression by Danaus. The presence of Io reaffirms the connection between these fabulae introduced in Aeschylus’ Supplices and Prometheus Bound. This paper aims to underline the features of this epyllion: the story of Io’s transformation and wandering shows topoi and ideas developed in Metamorphoses.