Greece

                    

Greece

This is a map of Greece as it appears on the online version of A.S. Kline's The Metamorphoses. I figured I should mention it's the place where most of The Metamorphoses takes place in. I figured Rome must have taken over Greece at the ending of The Metamorphoses when Julius Caesar gets deified.

I thought it was interesting to point out the fact that the two main systems of Qabbalah before The Key of it All were Greek and Hebrew. I figured it should be important to study The Metamorphoses next to the Greek Qabbalah. The Hebrew Qabbalah of course though corresponds with The Holy Bible.

Greece is actually the place where Democracy took its roots from, the Greek Flag also I might add also looks very similar to the American Flag.

"Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Democracy allows eligible citizens to participate equally—either directly or through elected representatives—in the proposal, development, and creation of laws. It encompasses social, economic and cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political self-determination.

The term originates from the Greek δημοκρατία (dēmokratía) "rule of the people",[1] which was coined from δῆμος (dêmos) "people" and κράτος (kratos) "power" in the 5th century BCE to denote the political systems then existing in Greek city-states, notably Athens; the term is an antonym to ἀριστοκρατία "rule of an elite." While theoretically these definitions are in opposition, in practice the distinction has been blurred historically.[2] The political system of Classical Athens, for example, granted democratic citizenship to an elite class of free men and excluded slaves and women from political participation. In virtually all democratic governments throughout ancient and modern history, democratic citizenship consisted of an elite class until full enfranchisement was won for all adult citizens in most modern democracies through the suffrage movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. The English word dates to the 16th century, from the older Middle French and Middle Latin equivalents.

A democratic government contrasts to forms of government where power is either held by one, as in a monarchy, or where power is held by a small number of individuals, as in an oligarchy. Nevertheless, these oppositions, inherited from Greek philosophy,[3] are now ambiguous because contemporary governments have mixed democratic, oligarchic, and monarchic elements. Karl Popper defined democracy in contrast to dictatorship or tyranny, thus focusing on opportunities for the people to control their leaders and to oust them without the need for a revolution.[4]

Several variants of democracy exist, but there are two basic forms, both of which concern how the whole body of all eligible citizens executes its will. One form of democracy is direct democracy, in which all eligible citizens have direct and active participation in the decision making of the government. In most modern democracies, the whole body of all eligible citizens remain the sovereign power but political power is exercised indirectly through elected representatives; this is called representative democracy. The concept of representative democracy arose largely from ideas and institutions that developed during the European Middle Ages, the Age of Enlightenment, and the American and French Revolutions.[5]" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy

Tiberius' Wiki Page - Wikipedia in General

I noticed that there's something strange and peculiar about Tiberius' Wiki page I can't seem to remember if it was different, but I keep thinking somebody did some major re-editing to it, and I'm trying to figure out where I can get the original information that was on it. I tried editing it out, but it goes back to the way it was continuously after attempts at editing it out.

I found a different version of how Tiberius dies in the Slovak version of the Wikipedia page where it says he actually died at age 78:

"Recent years (31 - 37)

Sejanova affair Emperor Tiberius very depressed. His closest friend and collaborator betrayed him. Who could have in this situation now believe? Tiberius even more bitter, closed to each other, and thus even more isolated from the outside world. Plan prepared his return to Rome, and public life thus finally collapsed. The State has continued to manage the written instructions, but it was the August policies that ensure government in the realm of smooth. Tiberius according to some reports, he spent his time sexual perversion. It also deepened the paranoia and suspicion of others. Long hours spent alone, grieving over the death of his son Druso. That's who came to the throne after his death, did not care too much. It does not place such importance to his father Augustus. It's mainly for his overall disappointment and lack of interest in the outside world in the last years of his life. Predsalen but counted on the future of the empire. Do it face to be erected by his two grandsons, Gaius Caligula (son germanica) and Tiberius Gemellus (Druse son).

Tiberius died quietly in his villa in the village of Misenum 16th 37th March of the year He was just 78 years and five months. There are rumors that the aging Emperor Caligula had murdered. There were, however, discovered evidence. However, this idea seems quite realistic considering Caligulovu depravity. The level of unpopularity Tiberius at lower and higher social classes in this period reached enormous proportions. This is confirmed by the fact that after transporting his body to the Roman senate refused to give him divine honors and the streets filled with people shouting'' Tiberius to the Tiber ''. There he is throwing the bodies of criminals. Mark Tiberius as criminals is more than presumptuous. His position in the capacity of emperor empire was from the very beginning very neprajné. Augustus, although he left to look blooming empire, whose power is second to none, but the truth was far different. Augustus expensive policy is almost completely empty treasury. A giant so what was then the Roman empire can not do without financial support. Although Roman legions woke fear in their enemies, but also with fear woke Tiberius. He does not have enough money to pay their pay. Thus the legions could ever go to Rome itself, which, as already mentioned, and really happened. Tiberius was fortunately able uprising own troops push without any significant impact on the operation of the law itself. Tiberius, however, still need to raise money to maintain internal order.But rejected the proposed general tax increase, as confirmed by his statement:'' The good shepherd may shear his sheep, not skin flayed from them''. Unfortunately, the people that he will not add to the good and to stop blaming him more games and all major buildings in the kingdom. Tiberius did so because of the enormous financial demands. Conversely top sector companies have alienated especially hostility and opposition to the introduction of the luxury tax."  - http://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_Caesar

There's some really shady edit's I think that went on on wikipedia without me noticing. The danger is anybody can edit out any article they want whenever they want however they want. One of the problems is I never used to research much outside of Wikipedia. I'll probably have to take a trip to the library to try to research some books.

Edit: I did some major re-editing of the Tiberius Wiki Page and had this certain picture removed. It should look better, I might do some re-editing to it though later on. 

Jupiter

Portrait of Jupiter

"Jupiter invokes the floodwaters     When he had spoken, some of the gods encouraged Jupiter’s anger, shouting their approval of his words, while others consented silently. They were all saddened though at this destruction of the human species, and questioned what the future of the world would be free of humanity. Who would honour their altars with incense? Did he mean to surrender the world to the ravages of wild creatures? In answer the king of the gods calmed their anxiety, the rest would be his concern, and he promised them a people different from the first, of a marvellous creation.     Now he was ready to hurl his lightning-bolts at the whole world but feared that the sacred heavens might burst into flame from the fires below, and burn to the furthest pole: and he remembered that a time was fated to come when sea and land, and the untouched courts of the skies would ignite, and the troubled mass of the world be besieged by fire. So he set aside the weapons theCyclopes forged, and resolved on a different punishment, to send down rain from the whole sky and drown humanity beneath the waves.     Straight away he shut up the north winds in Aeolus’s caves, with the gales that disperse the gathering clouds, and let loose the south wind, he who flies with dripping wings, his terrible aspect shrouded in pitch-black darkness. His beard is heavy with rain, water streams from his grey hair, mists wreathe his forehead, and his feathers and the folds of his robes distil the dew. When he crushes the hanging clouds in his outstretched hand there is a crash, and the dense vapours pour down rain from heaven. Iris, Juno’s messenger, dressed in the colours of the rainbow, gathers water and feeds it back to the clouds. The cornfields are flattened and saddening the farmers, the crops, the object of their prayers, are ruined, and the long year’s labour wasted." - The Metamorphoses

Book VII - Aeacus Son of Jupiter

"Bk VII:614-660 The creation of the Myrmidons

‘Stunned by such a storm of dark events, I said “O Jupiter, if they do not lie when they say that you were held in Aegina’s embrace, she, the daughter of Asopus, and if you are not ashamed, mighty father, to have fathered me, give me back my people or bury me too in their tomb.” He gave me a flash of lightning as a sign, and thunder followed. I said “I interpret this to be an omen, and that you give me it as a pledge, and may these accordingly be auspicious tokens of your purpose.” - The Metamorphoses

This is a scene where one of Jupiters sons Aeacus the son of Aegina confronts him.

 ‘A terrible plague afflicted the people through the unjust anger of Juno, detesting us because our island had been named after my mother, her rival. While it looked like a human disease, and the cause of the disastrous epidemic was hidden, we fought it with medical skill. But the destruction cancelled out our efforts, which waned as we were conquered. At the outset the sky shrouded the earth in a thick fog, and held the sultry heat under clouds. " - The Metamorphoses

Aegina though is one of Juno's rivals.

The Many Wives and Children of Zeus

Divine offspring

Mother	Children
Aega	Aegipan[12]
Ananke or Themis	Moirai/Fates1 Atropos Clotho Lachesis
Demeter	Persephone Zagreus
Dione or Thalassa	Aphrodite
Eos	Ersa Carae
Eris	Limos
Eurynome/Eurydome/ Eurymedusa/Euanthe	Charites/Graces2 Aglaea Euphrosyne Thalia
Gaia	Orion Manes
Hera	Ares3 Eileithyia Eris Hebe3 Hephaestus3 Angelos
Leto	Apollo Artemis
Maia	Hermes
Metis	Athena4
Mnemosyne	Muses (Original three) Aoide Melete Mneme Muses (Later nine) Calliope Clio Erato Euterpe Melpomene Polyhymnia Terpsichore Thalia Urania
Nemesis	Helen of Troy (possibly)
Persephone	Zagreus Melinoe
Selene	Ersa Nemean Lion Pandia
Thalia	Palici
Themis	Astraea Nymphs of Eridanos Nemesis Horae First Generation Auxo Carpo Thallo Second Generation Dike Eirene Eunomia Third generation Pherusa Euporie Orthosie
Unknown mother	Aletheia
Unknown mother	Ate
Unknown mother	Caerus
Unknown mother	Litae
Unknown mother	Tyche

Semi-divine/mortal offspring

Mother	Children
Aegina	Aeacus Damocrateia[13]
Alcmene	Heracles
Antiope	Amphion Zethus
Anaxithea	Olenus
Asterope, Oceanid	Acragas
Callisto	Arcas
Calyce	Aethlius (possibly)
Callirhoe (daughter of Achelous)	no known offspring
Carme	Britomartis
Cassiopeia	Atymnius
Chaldene	Solymus Milye
Danaë	Perseus
Dia	Pirithous
Elara	Tityos
Electra	Dardanus Iasion Harmonia
Europa	Minos Rhadamanthus Sarpedon Alagonia Carnus Dodon[14]
Eurymedousa	Myrmidon
Euryodeia	Arcesius
Himalia	Kronios Spartaios Kytos
Idaea, nymph	Cres
Iodame	Thebe
Io	Epaphus Keroessa
Isonoe	Orchomenus
Lamia	Akheilos Herophile
Laodamia	Sarpedon
Leda	Pollux Castor Helen of Troy5
Maera	Locrus
Niobe	Argus Pelasgus
Othreis	Meliteus
Pandora	Graecus Latinus
Phthia (daughter of Phoroneus)	Achaeus (possibly)
Plouto	Tantalus
Podarge	Balius Xanthus
Protogeneia	Aethlius (possibly) Opus
Pyrrha	Hellen
Semele	Dionysus
Taygete	Lacedaemon
Thyia	Magnes Makednos
Torrhebia	Carius
Nymph African	Iarbas
Nymph Samothracian	Saon (possibly)
Nymph Sithnid	Megarus
Unknown mother	Calabrus Geraestus Taenarus
Unknown mother	Corinthus
Unknown mother	Crinacus

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus#Consorts_and_children

Book IX - Iphis / Gay Character - Girl Transforms Into a Boy

"Bk IX:764-797 Isis transforms Iphis

With these words, she stopped speaking. The other girl was no less on fire, and prayed, Hymen, that you would come quickly. Telethusa, afraid of what she sought, merely put off the day: now lengthening the delay through pretended illness, now, frequently, using omens and dreams as an excuse. But eventually every pretext was exhausted, the date for the delayed marriage ceremony was set, and only a day remained. Then Telethusa took the sacred ribbons from her own and her daughter Iphis’s head, so that their hair streamed down, and clinging to the altar, cried: ‘Isis, you who protect Paraetonium, Pharos, the Mareotic fields, and Nile, divided in its seven streams, I pray you, bring help, and relieve our fears! Goddess, I saw you once, you, and those symbols of you, and I knew them all, accompanied by the jingling bronze of the sistrum, and imprinted your commands on my remembering mind. That my daughter looks on the light, that I have not been punished, behold, it was your purpose, and your gift. Gladden us with your aid. Have pity on us both!’

Tears followed words. The goddess seemed to make the altar tremble (it did tremble), and the doors of the temple shook, her horns, shaped like the moon’s crescents, shone, and the sistrum rattled loudly. Not yet reassured, but gladdened by the auspicious omen, the mother left the temple. Iphis, her companion, followed, taking larger paces than before; with no whiteness left in her complexion; with additional strength, and sharper features, and shorter, less elegant hair; showing more vigour than women have. Take your gifts to the temple, Iphis: rejoice, with confidence, not fear! You, who were lately a girl, are now a boy!

They take their gifts to the temple, and add a votive tablet: the tablet has this brief line:

IPHIS PERFORMS AS A BOY, WHAT HE PROMISED, AS A GIRL.

The next day’s sun reveals the wide world in its rays, when Venus, and Juno, joined with Hymen, come, to the marriage torches, and Iphis, the boy, gains possession of his Ianthe." - The Metamorphoses

Book IV - Hermaphroditus / A Gay Character - Shemale

"Bk IV:274-316 Alcithoë tells the story of Salmacis

    When the sisters are silent, Alcithoë is called on next. Standing there, running her shuttle through the threads on her loom, she said ‘I will say nothing of that well-known story, the love ofDaphnis, the Idaean shepherd-boy, whom a nymph, angered by a rival, turned to stone: so great is the pain that inflames lovers. Neither will I tell you how, the laws of nature conspiring to alter,Sithon became of indeterminate sex, now man, now woman: how Celmis, you too, now changed to steel, were a most loyal friend to the infant Jupiter: how the Curetes were born from vast showers of rain: how Crocus and Smilax were turned into tiny flowers. I will reject all those, and charm your imaginations with a sweet, new story.

    ‘Now you will hear where the pool of Salmacis got its bad reputation from, how its enervating waters weaken, and soften the limbs they touch. The cause is hidden, but the fountain’s effect is widely known. The Naiads nursed a child born of Hermes, and a goddess, Cytherean Aphrodite, in Mount Ida’s caves. His features were such that, in them, both mother and father could be seen: and from them he took his name, Hermaphroditus." - The Metamorphoses

The Metamorphoses - Gay Characters

I wanted to mention again that The Metamorphoses also mentions that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality and has several gay characters in the book.

Hermaphroditus - A Shemale God


"Bk IV:274-316 Alcithoë tells the story of Salmacis

    When the sisters are silent, Alcithoë is called on next. Standing there, running her shuttle through the threads on her loom, she said ‘I will say nothing of that well-known story, the love ofDaphnis, the Idaean shepherd-boy, whom a nymph, angered by a rival, turned to stone: so great is the pain that inflames lovers. Neither will I tell you how, the laws of nature conspiring to alter,Sithon became of indeterminate sex, now man, now woman: how Celmis, you too, now changed to steel, were a most loyal friend to the infant Jupiter: how the Curetes were born from vast showers of rain: how Crocus and Smilax were turned into tiny flowers. I will reject all those, and charm your imaginations with a sweet, new story.

    ‘Now you will hear where the pool of Salmacis got its bad reputation from, how its enervating waters weaken, and soften the limbs they touch. The cause is hidden, but the fountain’s effect is widely known. The Naiads nursed a child born of Hermes, and a goddess, Cytherean Aphrodite, in Mount Ida’s caves. His features were such that, in them, both mother and father could be seen: and from them he took his name, Hermaphroditus." - The Metamorphoses

Iphis - A Lesbian God

"Bk IX:764-797 Isis transforms Iphis

With these words, she stopped speaking. The other girl was no less on fire, and prayed, Hymen, that you would come quickly. Telethusa, afraid of what she sought, merely put off the day: now lengthening the delay through pretended illness, now, frequently, using omens and dreams as an excuse. But eventually every pretext was exhausted, the date for the delayed marriage ceremony was set, and only a day remained. Then Telethusa took the sacred ribbons from her own and her daughter Iphis’s head, so that their hair streamed down, and clinging to the altar, cried: ‘Isis, you who protect Paraetonium, Pharos, the Mareotic fields, and Nile, divided in its seven streams, I pray you, bring help, and relieve our fears! Goddess, I saw you once, you, and those symbols of you, and I knew them all, accompanied by the jingling bronze of the sistrum, and imprinted your commands on my remembering mind. That my daughter looks on the light, that I have not been punished, behold, it was your purpose, and your gift. Gladden us with your aid. Have pity on us both!’

Tears followed words. The goddess seemed to make the altar tremble (it did tremble), and the doors of the temple shook, her horns, shaped like the moon’s crescents, shone, and the sistrum rattled loudly. Not yet reassured, but gladdened by the auspicious omen, the mother left the temple. Iphis, her companion, followed, taking larger paces than before; with no whiteness left in her complexion; with additional strength, and sharper features, and shorter, less elegant hair; showing more vigour than women have. Take your gifts to the temple, Iphis: rejoice, with confidence, not fear! You, who were lately a girl, are now a boy!

They take their gifts to the temple, and add a votive tablet: the tablet has this brief line:

IPHIS PERFORMS AS A BOY, WHAT HE PROMISED, AS A GIRL.

The next day’s sun reveals the wide world in its rays, when Venus, and Juno, joined with Hymen, come, to the marriage torches, and Iphis, the boy, gains possession of his Ianthe." - The Metamorphoses

Bk II:441-465 Diana discover’s Callisto’s shame

"Bk II:441-465 Diana discover’s Callisto’s shame

Behold how Diana, with her band of huntresses, approaching from the heights of Maenalus, magnificent from the kill, spies her there, and seeing her calls out. At the shout she runs, afraid at first in case it is Jupiter disguised, but when she sees the other nymphs come forward she realises there is no trickery and joins their number. Alas! How hard it is not to show one’s guilt in one’s face! She can scarcely lift her eyes from the ground, not as she used to be, wedded to her goddess’s side or first of the whole company, but is silent and by her blushing shows signs of her shame at being attacked. Even if she were not herself virgin, Diana could sense her guilt in a thousand ways. They say all the nymphs could feel it.

Nine crescent moons had since grown full when the goddess faint from the chase in her brother’s hot sunlight found a cool grove out of which a murmuring stream ran, winding over fine sand. She loved the place and tested the water with her foot. Pleased with this too she said ‘Any witness is far away, let’s bathe our bodies naked in the flowing water.’ The Arcadian girl blushed: all of them took off their clothes: one of them tried to delay: hesitantly the tunic was removed and there her shame was revealed with her naked body. Terrified she tried to conceal her swollen belly. Diana cried ‘Go, far away from here: do not pollute the sacred fountain!’ and the Moon-goddess commanded her to leave her band of followers." - The Metamorphoses

The Metamorphoses

"Metamorphoses (from the Greek μεταμορφώσεις, "transformations") is a Latin narrative poem in fifteen books by the Roman poet Ovid, describing the history of the world from its creation to the deification of Julius Caesar within a loose mythico-historical framework. Completed in AD 8, it is recognized as a masterpiece of Golden Age Latin literature. One of the most-read of all classical works during the Middle Ages, the Metamorphoses continues to exert a profound influence on Western culture." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Metamorphoses

Bk III:165-205 Actaeon sees Diana naked and is turned into a stag.

Bk III:165-205 Actaeon sees Diana naked and is turned into a stag.

Having reached the place, she gives her spear, quiver and unstrung bow to one of the nymphs, her weapon-bearer. Another takes her robe over her arm, while two unfasten the sandals on her feet. Then, more skilful than the rest, Theban Crocale gathers the hair strewn around her neck into a knot, while her own is still loose. Nephele, Hyale, Rhanis, Psecas and Phiale draw water, and pour it over their mistress out of the deep jars.

While Titania is bathing there, in her accustomed place, Cadmus’s grandson, free of his share of the labour, strays with aimless steps through the strange wood, and enters the sacred grove. So the fates would have it. As soon as he reaches the cave mouth dampened by the fountain, the naked nymphs, seeing a man’s face, beat at their breasts and filling the whole wood with their sudden outcry, crowd round Diana to hide her with their bodies. But the goddess stood head and shoulders above all the others. Diana’s face, seen there, while she herself was naked, was the colour of clouds stained by the opposing shafts of sun, or Aurora’s brightness.

However, though her band of nymphs gathered in confusion around her, she stood turning to one side, and looking back, and wishing she had her arrows to hand. She caught up a handful of the water that she did have, and threw it in the man’s face. And as she sprinkled his hair with the vengeful drops she added these words, harbingers of his coming ruin, ‘Now you may tell, if you can tell that is, of having seen me naked!’ Without more threats, she gave the horns of a mature stag to the head she had sprinkled, lengthening his neck, making his ear-tips pointed, changing feet for hands, long legs for arms, and covering his body with a dappled hide. And then she added fear. Autonoë’s brave son flies off, marvelling at such swift speed, within himself. But when he sees his head and horns reflected for certain in the water, he tries to say ‘Oh, look at me! but no voice follows. He groans: that is his voice, and tears run down his altered face. Only his mind remains unchanged. What can he do? Shall he return to his home and the royal palace, or lie hidden in the woods? Shame prevents the one, and fear the other.

Book V - Calliope Sings - Wow - Must Read - Might Resolve Our Issues

"The Muse was speaking: wings sounded in the air, and voices in greeting came out of the high branches. The daughter of Jupiter looked up, and questioned where the sound came from, that was so much like mouths speaking, and thought it human, though it was birdsong. Nine of them, magpies, that imitate everything, had settled in the branches, bemoaning their fate." - The Metamorphoses

Before I talk about this part I wanted to mention that I'm a bit confused as to whether this is saying that Music is Magickal or exactly what it's saying. Personally I typically get somewhat concerned when I think I spot something that sounds as if it were to be directly portraying something I might have written on my blog. Still a somewhat confusing subject, to me it's very intriguing very very intriguing. I think it's one of the most intriguing subjects in the book.

This part enters to where a goddess named Calliope chooses the goddess Ceres to be the subject of one of her songs.

"Bk V:332-384 Calliope sings: Cupid makes Dis fall in love 

    ‘This much she played on her lute, with singing voice. Then called on us, - but perhaps you are not at leisure, or free to listen to a repetition of our music?’ ‘Do not stop’ said Pallas, ‘but sing your song again as you arranged it!’ and she sat amongst the light shadows of the grove. The Muse renewed her tale ‘We gave our best singer to the contest. Calliope, who rose, with her loose hair bound with ivy, tried out the plaintive strings with her fingers, then accompanied the wandering notes with this song.

    ‘“Ceres first turned the soil with curving plough, first ripened the crops and produce of the earth, first gave us laws: all things are Ceres’s gift. My song is of her. If only I could create a song in any way worthy of the goddess! This goddess is truly a worthy subject for my song." - The Metamorphoses

Did artists choose me as the subject for their songs. It's really intriguing somehow because I'm not exactly sure how to go about it because, for instance it says that birds often bemoan the fate of a person in their singing so would that be considered a Metamorphoses, pretty much, but for instance when I look at the video "Power" by Kanye West I start to wonder whether if it's birds singing of if the artist could possibly know me directly through a sort of All-Seeing Eye sort of technology I considered this seeing as how they often admit that a lot of musicians are in the Illuminati and as you may know one of the Illuminati's main symbols is the All-Seeing Eye. So it's a question I think that could be up for debate, very interesting subject.

The part where Calliope sings starts on this part:

"Bk V:294-331 The contest between the Pierides and the Muses

    The Muse was speaking: wings sounded in the air, and voices in greeting came out of the high branches. The daughter of Jupiter looked up, and questioned where the sound came from, that was so much like mouths speaking, and thought it human, though it was birdsong. Nine of them, magpies, that imitate everything, had settled in the branches, bemoaning their fate. While she wondered, the other began speaking, goddess to goddess, ‘Defeated in a contest, they have been added only recently to the flocks of birds. Pierus of Pella, rich in fields, was their father, andPaeonian Euippe was their mother. Nine times, while giving birth, she called, nine times, to powerful Lucina. Swollen with pride in their numbers, this crowd of foolish sisters came here, to us, through the many cities of Achaia and Haemonia, and challenged us to a singing competition, saying “Stop cheating the untutored masses with your empty sweetness. If you have faith in yourselves, contend with us, you goddesses of Thespiae. We cannot be outdone in voice or art, and we are your equals in numbers. If you want, if you are defeated, you can grant us theHeliconian fountains, Hippocrene, of Medusa’s offspring, and Boeotian Aganippe. Or we will grant you the Emathian plains as far as snow-covered Paeonia! Let the nymphs decide the outcome.”

   

 It was shameful to compete with them, but it seemed more shameful to concede. The nymphs were elected, and swore on their streams to judge fairly, and sat on platforms of natural rock. Then, without drawing lots, the one who had first declared the contest sang, of the war with the gods, granting false honours to the giants, and diminishing the actions of the mighty deities. HowTyphoeus, issued forth from his abode in the depths of the earth, filling the heavenly gods with fear, and how they all turned their backs in flight, until Egypt received them, and the Nile with its seven mouths. She told how earth-born Typhoeus     came there as well, and the gods concealed themselves in disguised forms. “Jupiter” she said, “turned himself into a ram, the head of the flock, and even now Libyan Ammon is shown with curving horns. Delian Apollo hid as a crow, Bacchus, Semele’s child, as a goat, Diana, the sister of Phoebus, a cat, Saturnian Juno a white cow,Venus a fish, and Cyllenian Mercury the winged ibis.”    

Bk V:332-384 Calliope sings: Cupid makes Dis fall in love 

    ‘This much she played on her lute, with singing voice. Then called on us, - but perhaps you are not at leisure, or free to listen to a repetition of our music?’ ‘Do not stop’ said Pallas, ‘but sing your song again as you arranged it!’ and she sat amongst the light shadows of the grove. The Muse renewed her tale ‘We gave our best singer to the contest. Calliope, who rose, with her loose hair bound with ivy, tried out the plaintive strings with her fingers, then accompanied the wandering notes with this song.

    ‘“Ceres first turned the soil with curving plough, first ripened the crops and produce of the earth, first gave us laws: all things are Ceres’s gift. My song is of her. If only I could create a song in any way worthy of the goddess! This goddess is truly a worthy subject for my song." - The Metamorphoses

"Bk V:642-678 Calliope sings: Triptolemus. The Fate of the Pierides

So ended the singing, from the greatest of our singers, and the nymphs, with one harmonious voice, said that the goddesses of Helicon had taken the honours. When the losers hurled abuse at us, I said “Seeing that you deserve punishment enough for your challenge, and now add profanities to your offence, and since our patience is not unlimited, we will move on to sentence you, and follow where anger prompts us.” The Emathides laughed and ridiculed these threatening words, but as they tried to speak, and, attack us with insolent hands, making a great clamour, they saw feathers spring from under their nails, and plumage cover their arms. Each one saw the next one’s mouth harden to a solid beak, and a new bird enter the trees. When they wanted to beat their breasts in sorrow, they hung in the air, lifted by the movement of their arms, magpies now, the slanderers of the woods. Even now, as birds, their former eloquence remains, their raucous garrulity, and their monstrous capacity for chatter.’" - The Metamorphoses