Abstract

The finale of Ovid’s Metamorphoses contains a sphragis in which the poet proclaims the immortality of his poetic work and the eternal survival of his pars melior (Ov. Met. 15.871–879). These lines present a number of rather close parallels with excerpts from the seventh suasoria of Seneca the Elder’s collection, whose theme is Deliberat Cicero an scripta sua comburat promittente Antonio incolumitatem, si fecisset. Allusions to this declamatory exercise may activate in the Ovidian passage a reference to the theme of book-burning, evoked especially by the term ignis in line 871: this form of censorship against authors disliked by the imperial regime began to appear toward the end of Augustus’ principate, in the very same years when Ovid completed the composition of his Metamorphoses, before in turn being exiled by Augustus (an event to which the phrase Iovis ira, again in line 871, may allude). But at the same time, in the face of such a possible threat, Ovid affirms the certainty that his work will nonetheless prove stronger than fire and grant him perpetual life.