Metamorphoses

During the wedding feast, Andromeda’s former betrothed Phineus and his friends battle Perseus and his companions. Many die but ultimately Perseus uses Medusa’s head to turn Phineus, whom he calls “cowardest of cowards” to stone (105). Perseus then takes his bride back to Greece.

On Mt. Helicon, Minerva visits the Muses. The Muse Urania tells Minerva how her sister Calliope once defeated a boastful mortal girl in a music contest by singing the story of Proserpine.

The god Pluto falls in love with the goddess Ceres’ daughter Proserpine. After he kidnaps Proserpine, Ceres, goddess of agriculture, wanders the earth looking for her. A nymph named Cyane helps Ceres figure out that Pluto had taken Proserpine. Enraged, Ceres lets famine overtake the world.

She begs Jupiter to intervene. The Fates forbid her to return permanently, however, because Proserpine had eaten three pomegranate seeds, which are surrounded by a sweet, ruby colored flesh and considered the food of the dead. Therefore, Proserpine must remain in the underworld for part of the year and above ground with her mother for the other part. Her return from the underworld heralds the beginning of spring.