#the fasti

[zmaragdos]

‘venimus ad quartum, quo tu celeberrima mense:

et vatem et mensem scis, Venus, esse tuos.’

mota Cytheriaca leviter mea tempora myrto

contigit et ‘coeptum perfice’ dixit ‘opus.’

—

“We have come to the fourth month, in which You are most honored: 

You know, Venus, both the poet and the month to be Yours.”

Moved, She lightly crowned my temples with Cytherian myrtle

and said: “Finish the work that has been started.”

P. Ovidius Naso, Fastorum Libri Sex, Lib IV lines 13–16

Myrtle (Myrtus communis) was one of several flowers associated with Aphrodite and Venus. It is an evergreen bush found throughout the entire Mediterranean region. “Cytherian” myrtle refers to common myrtle found on the Greek island (between Crete and the mainland) that Aphrodite first saw after being born from sea foam. In the Roman period, Cythera was regarded as having the oldest temple to Venus in the world.

[ashmoleanmuseum]

Ovid’s Fasti

In 8 AD, the Roman poet Ovid published the Fasti; a six book latin poem that celebrated the customs, festivals and myths that filled the Roman year.

For 3rd February when the constellation Delphinius (The Dolphin) disappears, Ovid tells the tale of singer Arion who after winning silver from a music competition in Sicily, is thrown into the sea by Corinthian sailors who are after his newly-won riches. Arion is saved by a dolphin sent by Jupiter who was charmed by his music and is safely returned to Corinth.

"Arion gripped the Lyre, and paid his fare In song, soothing the ocean waves with his singing The gods see good deeds: Jupiter took the dolphin And ordered its constellation to contain nine stars" - Extract from the Fasti by Publius Ovidius Naso (43 BCE-17/18 CE)

Unusually, Arion appears as a young boy in Ferrari's interpretation. In Ancient Sculpture, Love or Cupid is often shown as a boy riding a dolphin. Painted in 1509-1510, this playful image suggests the work of art had a different meaning to the artist.

Arion riding on a Dolphin by Francesco Bianchi Ferrari (active 1481 - d. 1510), c. 1509 - 1510. Tempera and oil on panel.