Teachers at both the secondary and college level often overlook the value of Ovid’s Heroides, a collection of letters from mythological heroines to their “beloveds.” The first letter is one from Penelope to Ulysses. CANE publishes an affordable student edition of the poem that is edited by L. Roebuck. Other letters in the collection include: Phyllis to Demophoon; Briseis to Achilles; Phaedra to Hippolytus; Oenone to Paris; Hypsiplye to Jason; Dido to Aeneas; Hermione to Orestes; Deianira to Hercules; Ariadne to Theseus; Canace to Macereus; Medea to Jason; Laodamia to Protesilaus; and Hypermestra to Lynceus. The final three poems in the Heroides are letters between famous amatory pairs: Paris and Helen; Leander and Hero; and Actonius and Cydippe.
These poems provide ample material for class discussion especially if the teacher has introduced some aspects of classical mythology into the curriculum. After translating a selection from the Heroides, students can practice writing letters to one another in Latin. Teachers can incorporate technology into this assignment by having the letters sent electronically.
