Ovidio, 'Heroides' 15 (Sappho Phaoni)

The volumeprovides readers with an updated commentary of Ovid's Epistula Sappho, focusing on the debate about its authenticity, which in recent years was denied once again by high profile scholars. The work brings new elements into this long-lasting dispute, moving from the strong interest that the fifteenth Herois has gathered in the context of inter-textual studies, and analyses the relation between the Sappho and the entire Ovidian poetry.

Against such background, the choice of Sappho, a real poet and not a mythological heroine, is hardly casual. The fictitious Sappho drops the lyric poetry to turn to the elegy, which better suits her status of abandoned woman, in line with the poetics of aptus in the Amores. Concurrently, the poem paves the way for the next steps in the author's output as Sappho is represented both as a discipula of the praeceptor amoris and magistra amoris herself. Finally, the conclusion of the letter leaves the door open for the double epistles, demonstrating its key role in conveying a number of Ovid's recurrent themes. In addition to defending the authenticity, the volume offers a detailed commentary and highlights the relevance of the letter for the future reception of Sappho's poetry and figure.