Cupid recalled: apologia in Ovid's poetry from exile

Tristia 2 is the prime example of Ovids attempt, while in exile, to defend and reinterpret his erotic poetry in the form of an apologia pro vita sua to the emperor who banished him. In Epistulae Ex Ponto 3.3, Cupid reappears as a character in Ovids poetry in order to corroborate the poets defense given in Tristia 2. Cupids epiphany in Ex Ponto 3.3 allows Ovid to reiterate his defense in novel fashion by recalling Cupid to vouch for Ovids intention and effect in the work in which he figured so prominently. In both poems Ovid argues that his original intention was not to influence Roman matronae, and that there is nullum crimen in the Ars. This thesis discusses how Ovids exile poetry, most notably Tristia 2 and Ex Ponto 3.3, defends and reinterprets his erotic poetry to repudiate its subversive content in order to effect his recall to Rome.