Vicende (e intrecci) del mito in terra d’Italia: Scilla, Glauco e Circe nelle Metamorfosi di Ovidio

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the function and relevance of the Circe, Glaucus and Scylla episode in Ov. Met. 13.730-14.74. In disagreement with the judgements that ancient and modern criticism have given about the character of Circe, this paper wants to rehabilitate her figure, by showing that Ovid puts in Circe’s mouth, in her talk with Glaucus, a fundamental message for the interpretation of the whole section: the importance of amor mutuus and the ineffectiveness of magic in matters of love. If only Glaucus had followed Circe’s warning, the course of the Odyssey could have been very different...