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Ovid's Cipus (Metamorphoses 5.565-621) and the Horned Man Paradox

Lowe, Dunstan (2025) Ovid's Cipus (Metamorphoses 5.565-621) and the Horned Man Paradox. Classical Philology, 121 (4). pp. 472-491. ISSN 0009-837X. (In press) (KAR id:112640)

Abstract

The Cipus episode in Ovid’s Metamorphoses 15, featuring a Roman with horns, is unusual because it contains no moment of transformation. The narrative also contrasts with that of Valerius Maximus in ways that the difference between genres cannot entirely explain. I suggest that Ovid alludes to the Horned Man paradox, a comparatively well known (and often derided) logical problem. This would add to existing evidence that Ovid knew and played with philosophical themes, most obviously in the Speech of Pythagoras earlier in Metamorphoses 15.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled keywords: Ovid, Metamorphoses, Cipus, Horned Man, Paradox, Syllogism
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
P Language and Literature > PA Classical philology
Institutional Unit: Schools > School of Humanities > Classics and Archaeological Studies
Former Institutional Unit:
There are no former institutional units.
Funders: University of Kent (https://ror.org/00xkeyj56)
Depositing User: Dunstan Lowe
Date Deposited: 07 Jan 2026 16:31 UTC
Last Modified: 08 Jan 2026 12:07 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/112640 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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