DeepSummary
The episode revisits the stories of Iphis and Caeneus, two transgender characters in Ovid's Metamorphoses. Iphis, raised as a boy despite being born a girl, prays to the goddess Isis to be transformed into a man so he can marry his beloved Ianthe. Isis grants his wish, and Iphis becomes a man. The episode discusses whether Iphis' story represents a trans man or a lesbian seeking acceptance.
Caeneus, born female as Caenis, is raped by Poseidon and asks to be turned into a man to avoid future assaults. Poseidon obliges, making Caeneus nearly invincible. The episode analyzes Ovid's language suggesting Caeneus was always meant to be a man. During the Centauromachy, transphobic centaurs fail to harm Caeneus before crushing him under a pile of trees.
The episode explores how these ancient stories portray trans characters positively, undermining the notion that transgender identities are modern. It highlights linguistic evidence of Ovid intentionally depicting Iphis and Caeneus as trans men, providing representation for ancient and modern trans people.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The stories of Iphis and Caeneus in Ovid's Metamorphoses portray transgender characters in an empowering, positive way.
- Ovid's language choices suggest he intentionally depicted Iphis and Caeneus as transgender men.
- These ancient stories provide representation of transgender identities, undermining the idea that being trans is exclusively modern.
- Iphis' story can be read as either a trans man or a masculine lesbian seeking acceptance, but Caeneus' tale explicitly presents him as a transgender man.
- Examining such stories is important for validating and uplifting modern trans people and their experiences.
- Analysis of ancient texts can uncover new insights into gender and identity through a modern lens.
- Greek mythology contains diverse depictions of gender that challenge societal norms of the time.
- The transgender experience has ancient roots, even if the terminology has evolved.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Cneus, rejoicing in this gift, sets off. He spends his life in masculine pursuits, rambling through the bushlands of Peneus.“ by Liv Albert
- “Ovid uses a sexual pun as he presents kineas in a masculine penetrative roll roaming through the countryside. Arvum plowable field is a slang term for female genitalia, and plowing is a euphemism for sex.“ by Stephanie McCarter
- “Trans stories are generally just super important, and certainly now more than ever. But I personally also just I find such wonder in these stories that so specifically address trans characters and myth.“ by Liv Albert
- “Please use these examples that I have provided today when fighting with people who think trans people are new or a trend or a phase or anything in between. 2000 years ago, Ovid said fuck that bullshit and we should too.“ by Liv Albert
Entities
Company
Person
Book
Product
Concept
Mythological figure
Mythological event
Mythological group
Episode Information
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
iHeartPodcasts and Liv Albert
7/2/24
Revisiting the stories of trans characters, Caeneus and Iphis, in Ovid's Metamorphoses. Help keep LTAMB going by subscribing to Liv's Patreon for bonus content!
CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.
Sources: Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Stephanie McCarter (entries and end notes); "Reframing Iphis and Caeneus: Trans Narratives and Socio-Linguistic Gendering in Ovid’s Metamorphoses" by J. L. Watson.
Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.