The Transformation of Iphis

A 16th Century Retelling of the Transformation of Iphis

Name: Johannes Posthius Date:   1537 – 1597 CE Region: [modern Germany] Citation:  Poems Inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book 9

Iphis, your father Lygdus betrothed you to Ianthe,

Not knowing that you didn’t have a man’s body.

But Isis came to the rescue:

For your mother Telethusa watched in wonder

As her Iphis entered the temple a girl

And left it as a boy.  

A 16th Century Retelling of the Transformation of Iphis

Iphi tibi Lygdus genitor despondet Ianthen,

Sed nihil heu tete nescit habere viri.

Adfert Isis opem, nam quae modo templa subibas

femina, te puerum mater abire videt.

Johannes Posthius [1537 – 1597 CE, modern Germany] was a famous German poet and scholar.

Achilles' earrings! Servius, Aen. 1.30

Name: Servius Date: 4th – 5th century CE Region: [modern Italy] Citation:   Commentary on the Aeneid, 1.30

It is said that there’s a statue of Achilles in Sigeum where he wears an earring in his ear just like a woman does.

apud Sigeum Achillis statua fuisse dicitur, quae in lanna, id est in extima auris parte elenchum more femineo habuerit.

Servius [Maurus Servius Honoratus; 4th – 5th century CE] Servius’ name is unfortunately the only thing we know of this author. Little is known about the author or manuscript tradition for the grammatical commentary of Vergil’s Aeneid.