Byblis (Met. 9.454-665)

Byblis falls in love with her brother, Caunus, and discloses her passion in a letter. Caunus, sickened by what he reads, rebuffs his sister, who wastes away into a stream of tears.

Model play.

None that we know of.

Areas to explore.

Given that there is no dramatic model, how does Ovid infuse this episode with drama? In particular, how does Byblis' passion reflect the experience of Phaedra?

Bibliography.

• D. H. J. Larmour, "Tragic Contaminatio in Ovid's Metamorphoses."
• B. R. Nagle, "Byblis and Myrrha: Two Incest Narratives in the Metamorphoses."
• B. Otis, Ovid as an Epic Poet.