Metamorphoses 10: Outline

As with every book of the Metamorphoses, Theoi's online version offers an outline. The numbers are hyperlinked to its rendering of the stories.

BOOK 10

1. Orpheus & Eurydice
2. Attis & Cybele
3. Cyparissus
4. Hyacinthus & Apollo
5. The Propoetides
6. Pygmalion
7. Myrrha & Cinyras
8. Atalanta & Hippomenes
9. Adonis

Sneaky gods and Cretans

How shall we sing of him – as lord of Dicte1 or of Lycaeum?2 

My soul is all in doubt, since debated is his birth. 

O Zeus, some say that thou wert born on the hills of Ida3; 

others, O Zeus, say in Arcadia; did these or those, O Father lie? 

“Cretans are ever liars.”4 

Yea, a tomb,5 O Lord, for thee the Cretans builded; 

but thou didst not die, for thou art for ever. 

Callimachus, Hymn to Zeus

Rembrandt: Zeus & Europa (detail)

The Cretan world of Book 8 originated in the "rape" of Europa, depicted at the end of Book 2 (and by Arachne in Book 6.103). It was, as Ovid tells it, more of a beguilement, a ruse of the king of the gods, capturing the maiden's interest, and seducing her to play with the gentle-seeming beast. 

Rhea gives "Zeus" to Cronos

Zeus absconded with the girl to the sacred isle of his cradle, where another ruse, long before, had protected Baby Zeus from the devouring determination of his father, Cronos.

From its beginning, Crete is associated with lies, artful dodges, and false appearances (the stone Rhea presents to Cronos). It also has topographical features associated with Zeus, including a plain where the baby's navel fell off, according to a hymn by Callimachus. 

The Cretans, also called Curetes, danced and beat their armor so that Cronos wouldn't hear his latest child cry, the poet adds. But as he says in the verses above, little is certain about what Cretans say.

It's suggestive is that a generation of gods avoided annihilation by virtue of ambiguity and deception.

Here's a brief outline of Book 8, with links to the individual tales on Theoi.com:

BOOK 8

1. Minos & Scylla
2. Daedalus & Icarus
3. Calydonian Boar Hunt
4. Althaea & Meleager
5. Perimela & Achelous
6. Baucis & Philemon
7. Erysichthon & Mestra

Metamorphoses Bk I: Outline

A proposed outline of Book I:

Proemium 1-4

The First Creation * * *

• Cosmogony 5-88
• Myth of Ages 89-150
• Gigantomachy 151-162

The Second Creation * * *

• Council of the Gods 163-261
  • Story of Lycaon (told by Jupiter) 211-243
• Flood 262-312
• Deucalion and Pyrrha 313-415

The Third Creation * * *

• Pytho 416-451

The Loves of the Gods * * *

• Apollo and Daphne 452-567
• Io 568-750
• Phaethon (beginning) 751-779

A complete outline of the Metamorphoses can be found here. A complete list of tales, with links is here.

Outline of Metamorphoses, Kline Translation

Each of the titles links to that tale in Kline's translation, but from a different site than what we've been using. The text is very readable, but does not have the identifying annotations.

Book 1 No Titans encountered yet Separation of the elements The earth and sea. The five zones The four winds Humankind The Golden Age The Silver Age The Bronze Age The giants Jupiter threatens to destroy humankind Lycaon is turned into a wolf Jupiter invokes the floodwaters The Flood The world is drowned Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha They ask Themis for help The human race is recreated Other species are generated Phoebus kills the Python and sees Daphne Phoebus pursues Daphne Phoebus begs Daphne to yield to him Daphne becomes the laurel bough Phoebus honours Daphne Inachus mourns for Io Jupiter's rape of Io Jupiter transforms Io to a heifer Juno claims Io and Argus guards her Inachus finds Io and grieves for her Jupiter sends Mercury to kill Argus Mercury tells the story of Syrinx Io is returned to human form Phaethon's parentage Phaethon sets out for the Palace of the Sun Book 2 The Palace of the Sun Phaethon and his father The Sun's admonitions His further warnings Phaethon insists on driving the chariot The Sun's instructions The Horses run wild Phaethon lets go of the reins The mountains burn The rivers are dried up Earth complains Jupiter intervenes and Phaethon dies Phaethon's sisters grieve for him The sisters turned into poplar trees Cycnus The Sun returns to his task Jupiter sees Callisto Jupiter rapes Callisto Diana discover's Callisto's shame Callisto turned into a bear Arcas and Callisto become constellations Juno complains to Tethys and Oceanus The Raven and the Crow The Crow's story Coronis is betrayed and Phoebus kills her Phoebus repents and saves Aesculapius Chiron and Chariclo's prophecies Mercury, Battus and the stolen cattle Mercury sees Herse Mercury elicits the help of Aglauros Minerva calls on Envy Envy poisons Aglauros's heart Aglauros is turned to stone Jupiter's abduction of Europa Book 3 Cadmus searches for his sister Europa Cadmus kills the Dragon Cadmus sows the Dragon's teeth Cadmus founds Thebes Actaeon returns from the hunt Actaeon sees Diana naked and is turned into a stag Actaeon is pursued by his hounds Actaeon is killed by the dogs Juno sets out to punish Semele Semele is consumed by Jupiter's fire The judgement of Tiresias Echo sees Narcissus How Juno altered Echo's speech Narcissus sees himself and falls in love Narcissus laments the pain of unrequited love Narcissus is changed into a flower Tiresias prophesies Pentheus's fate Pentheus rejects the worship of Bacchus Acoetes is captured and interrogated Acoetes's story the beautiful boy Acoetes's ship and crew are transformed Pentheus is killed by the Maenads Book 4 The Festival of Bacchus The daughters of Minyas reject Bacchus Arsippe tells the story of Pyramus and Thisbe The death of Pyramus The death of Thisbe Leuconoë's story: Mars and Venus Leuconoë's story: Venus's revenge The transformation of Leucothoë Clytie is transformed into the heliotrope Alcithoë tells the story of Salmacis Salmacis falls for Hermaphroditus Salmacis and Hermaphroditus merge The daughters of Minyas become bats Juno is angered by Semele's sister Ino Tisiphone maddens Athamas and Ino Ino becomes the goddess Leucothoë Juno transforms the Theban women Cadmus and Harmonia become serpents Perseus and Atlas Perseus offers to save Andromeda Perseus defeats the sea-serpent Perseus tells the story of Medusa Book 5 Phineus seeks revenge for the loss of his bride The fight: the death of Athis The fight: The deaths of Idas, Chromis and others The fight: Lampetides, Dorylas and others Perseus uses the Gorgon's head Phineus is turned to stone Minerva on Helicon The contest between the Pierides and the Muses Calliope sings: Cupid makes Dis fall in love Calliope sings: Dis and the rape of Proserpine Calliope sings: Ceres searches for Proserpine Calliope sings: Ceres asks Jupiter's help Calliope sings: Persephone's fate Calliope sings: Arethusa's story Calliope sings: Triptolemus. The Fate of the Pierides Book 6 Arachne rejects Minerva Pallas Minerva challenges Arachne Pallas weaves her web Arachne weaves hers in reply Arachne is turned into a spider Niobe rejects the worship of Latona The gods' vengeance: Niobe's sons are killed Niobe's daughters are killed: Her fate The story of Latona and the Lycians The tale of Marsyas The marriage of Procne and Tereus Tereus's passion for Procne's sister Philomela Tereus forces Philomela Philomela is mutilated The truth is revealed The pitiless feast They are transformed into birds Boreas and Orithyia Book 7 Medea agonises over her love for Jason Jason promises to marry Medea Jason wins the Golden Fleece Jason asks Medea to lengthen Aeson's life Medea summons the powers and gathers herbs Medea rejuvenates Aeson Medea's destruction of Pelias Medea flees and reaches Athens Medea attempts Theseus's life, then vanishes The praise for Theseus Minos threatens war Aeacus tells of the plague at Aegina The creation of the Myrmidons The infidelities of Cephalus and Procris The transformation of Cephalus's dog Laelaps The death of Procris Book 8 Scylla decides to betray her city of Megara Scylla, deserted, is changed to a bird The Minotaur, Theseus, and Ariadne Daedalus and Icarus The death of Talos The Calydonian Boar Hunt: the cause The Calydonian Boar Hunt: the boar is roused The Calydonian Boar Hunt: the kill The Calydonian Boar Hunt: the spoils Althaea and the burning brand The death of Meleager Acheloüs tells Theseus and his friends of Perimele Lelex tells of Philemon and Baucis The transformation of Philemon and Baucis Erysichthon fells Ceres's sacred oak tree Ceres sends Famine to Erysichthon The fate of Erysichthon and his daughter Mestra Book 9 Acheloüs wrestles with Hercules The shirt of Nessus The agony of Hercules The death and transformation of Hercules Alcmena tells of Hercules's birth and of Galanthis Iole tells the story of her half-sister Dryope The prophecies of Themis Jupiter acknowledges the power of Fate Byblis falls in love with her twin brother Caunus The fatal letter The transformation of Byblis The birth of Iphis Iphis and Ianthe Isis transforms Iphis Book 10 Orpheus and Eurydice The gathering of the trees The death of Cyparissus Orpheus sings: Ganymede; Hyacinthus Orpheus sings: The Propoetides Orpheus sings: Pygmalion and the statue Orpheus sings: Myrrha's incestuous love for Cinyras Orpheus sings: Myrrha and her nurse Orpheus sings: Myrrha's crime and punishment Orpheus sings: Venus and Adonis Venus tells her story: Atalanta and Hippomenes Venus tells her story: The footrace Venus tells her story: The transformation Orpheus sings: The death of Adonis Book 11 The death of Orpheus The transformation of the Maenads Midas and the golden touch Pan and Apollo compete before Tmolus Midas and the ass's ears Laomedon and the walls of Troy Peleus and Thetis Ceyx tells the story of Daedalion Peleus and the wolf The separation of Ceyx and Alcyone The Tempest The House of Sleep Morpheus goes to Alcyone in the form of Ceyx They are turned into birds The transformation of Aesacus Book 12 Iphigenia at Aulis The House of Rumour The death and transformation of Cycnus Nestor tells the story of Caeneus-Caenis Nestor tells of the battle of Lapiths and Centaurs The deaths of Amycus, Gryneus, Cometes The deaths of Corythus, Aphidas and others Pirithoüs, Theseus and Peleus join the fight Cyllarus and Hylonome The transformation of Caeneus Nestor tells of the death of Periclymenus The death of Achilles Book 13 The debate over the arms: Ajax speaks The debate over the arms: Ulysses speaks The death of Ajax The fall of Troy The deaths of Polydorus and Polyxena Hecuba's lament and transformation Aurora and the Memnonides Aeneas begins his wanderings The transformation of Anius's daughters The cup of Alcon Aeneas's journey to Sicily Acis and Galatea The song of Polyphemus Acis is turned into a rivergod Glaucus tells Scylla of his transformation Book 14 The transformation of Scylla Aeneas journeys to Cumae Aeneas and the Sybil of Cumae Macareus meets Achaemenides again Ulysses and Circe The transformation of Picus The fate of Canens Caieta's epitaph War in Latium: Turnus asks Diomede's help Acmon and others are changed into birds The creation of the wild olive The transformation of Aeneas's ships The heron is born from Ardea's ruins The deification of Aeneas The line of Alban kings Vertumnus woos Pomona Anaxarete and Iphis War and reconciliation with the Sabines The deification of Romulus The deification of his wife Hersilia Book 15 Myscelus: the founding of Crotona Pythagoras's Teachings: Vegetarianism Pythagoras's Teachings: Metempsychosis Pythagoras's Teachings: The Eternal Flux Pythagoras's Teachings: The Four Ages of Man Pythagoras's Teachings: The Elements Pythagoras's Teachings: Geological changes Pythagoras's Teachings: Physical changes Pythagoras's Teachings: Autogenesis Pythagoras's Teachings: The Phoenix Pythagoras's Teachings: Transfers of Power Pythagoras's Teachings: The Sanctity of Life The transformation of Hippolytus Cipus acquires horns Aesculapius, the god, saves Rome from plague The deification of Julius Caesar Ovid's celebration of Augustus Ovid's Envoi