Rare 1543 Illustrated Ovid with a World Map

Item #23

Ovidius Naso (Publius)Heroides, Publii Ouidii Nasonis Heroides. Cum interpretibus Hubertino Crescentio et Iano Parrhasio. Eiusdem Sappho cum Domitio. Eiusdem Ibis cum Christ. Zaroto. Cum enarrationibus Badii Ascensii in haec omnia. Et annotationibus Bap. Egnatii. Addito indice locupletissimo Venice, [in aedibus Francisci Bindonei, & Maphei Pasinei], 1543. 4to., 20 x 15 cm. Complete: [8] 604 [i.e. 602] columns numbered Old limp vellum, 18th century? charming purple mottled edges, title page a bit toned/foxed, some toning, occasional minor stain, generally very good. [Not in Adams; Censimento 16 CNCE 23362],

A RARE EDITION. with 3 woodcut illustrations (including one of the seven deals sins of INVIDIA) and a depiction of the earth. This edition with the revered commentary of Hubertinus Crescentius.

Publius Ovidius Naso, better known as Ovid, was a Roman poet who lived during the reign of Emperor Augustus. One of his most famous works is the collection of epistolary poems called the "Heroides" (sometimes spelled "Heroidae" or "Heroidum Epistulae").

The "Heroides" consists of 21 letters written in the voices of heroines from Greek and Roman mythology, addressed to their male lovers who have abandoned them or betrayed them in some way. The women range from well-known figures like Penelope, Dido, and Medea, to lesser-known characters like Sappho and Oenone.

The letters are written in elegiac couplets, a form of poetry that was common in ancient Rome. Each letter is a lament, in which the heroine expresses her grief and anger at her lover's betrayal. The letters are full of vivid descriptions of the women's emotions, their past experiences with their lovers, and their current situations.

The "Heroides" was an innovative work in its time, as it gave voice to female characters who were often marginalized in the male-dominated literature of the ancient world. The letters also challenged traditional gender roles and presented a more complex and nuanced view of love and relationships.

Price: $1,100.00