(4) and (7). The true evening rising is 10 June: so (4) is right, (7) a week wrong.

(6) The actual morning rising of Orion's arm was 16 June: but Ovid says it was the evening rising, and is wrong.

(8) The apparent evening rising of Ophiuchus was 19 April: but Ovid is probably confusing it with the true morning setting, which was on 21 June. In either case, wrong.

(9) The true morning rising of the Belt was 21 June: so Ovid is five days wrong.

We observe therefore here:

a.

In no case does he say whether it is the true or the apparent time he is speaking of: though it is sometimes one, sometimes the other.

b. In two cases he gives a double date, which is absurd. In two cases he confuses the morning with the evening, (6) and (8).

C.

d. In one case (8) he confuses the setting with the

e.

rising.

In four cases, even where he means the right phenomenon, the date is wrong.

[The information given above is derived partly from a masterly article on Ancient Astronomy, by the late Professor W. Ramsay, of Glasgow, in Dr Smith's Antiquities' Dictionary : and partly from Peter's Critical Appendix. Both are founded mainly on an exhaustive treatise, by Ideler, on the Astronomy of Ovid's Fasti.]

§ 7. List of Gods.

It may be useful to some beginners just to put down a list of the chief Roman gods, with the Greek names with which they were identified, or from which they were derived.

Apollo or Phoebus, god of the lyre, the the same, Apollon

For the identification of Greek and Roman deities, see note

on 287, and Index.

O. F.

2

P. OVIDII NASONIS

FASTORUM

LIBER VI.

EXPLANATIONS OF THE NAME JUNE

I. From Iuno. The goddess appears to the poet
Hic quoque mensis habet dubias in nomine causas:
Quae placeant, positis omnibus ipse leges.
Facta canam. sed erunt, qui me finxisse loquantur,
Nullaque mortali numina visa putent.

Est deus in nobis! agitante calescimus illo:
Impetus hic sacrae semina mentis habet.
Fas mihi praecipue voltus vidisse deorum,
Vel quia sum vates, vel quia sacra cano.
Est nemus arboribus densum, secretus ab omn
Voce locus, si non obstreperetur aquis.
Hic ego quaerebam, coepti quae mensis origo
Esset, et in cura nominis huius eram.
Ecce deas vidi: non quas praeceptor arandi

Viderat, Ascraeas cum sequeretur oves:
Nec quas Priamides in aquosae vallibus Idae
Contulit. ex illis sed tamen una fuit.
Ex illis fuit una, sui germana mariti:

Haec erat, agnovi, quae stat in arce Iovis.
Horrueram, tacitoque animum pallore fatebar.
Tum dea, quos fecit, sustulit ipsa metus.

5

ΙΟ

15

20

She claims that the month's name is derived from her: she has deserved it by her rank and favours to Rome.

Namque ait 'O vates, Romani conditor anni,
'Ause per exiguos magna referre modos,
'Ius tibi fecisti numen caeleste videndi,

'Cum placuit numeris condere festa tuis.
'Ne tamen ignores volgique errore traharis,
'Iunius a nostro nomine nomen habet.
'Est aliquid nupsisse Iovi, Iovis esse sororem.
'Fratre magis, dubito, glorier, anne viro.

25

'Si genus aspicitur, Saturnum prima parentem 'Feci: Saturni sors ego prima fui.

'A patre dicta meo quondam Saturnia Roma est: 'Haec illi a caelo proxima terra fuit.

30

'Si torus in pretio est, dicor matrona Tonantis,
'Iunctaque Tarpeio sunt mea templa Iovi,
'An potuit Maio pelex dare nomina mensi,
'Hic honor in nobis invidiosus erit?
'Cur igitur regina vocor princepsque dearum?
'Aurea cur dextrae sceptra dedere meae?
An facient mensem luces, Lucinaque ab illis
'Dicar, et a nullo nomina mense traham?
'Tum me paeniteat 'posuisse fideliter iras

35

40

'In genus Electrae Dardaniamque domum.

'Causa duplex irae. rapto Ganymede dolebam :
'Forma quoque Idaeo iudice victa mea est.
'Paeniteat, quod non foveo Carthaginis arces,
'Cum mea sint illo currus et arma loco.

45

'Paeniteat Sparten Argosque measque Mycenas 'Et veterem Latio supposuisse Samon.

'Adde senem Tatium, Iunonicolasque Faliscos, 'Quos ego Romanis succubuisse tuli.

50