Book VI contains three stories of horrific violence, each somehow more horrific than the last. First, the goddess Athena beats Arachne almost to death with a weaving tool, then transforms her into a spider. Them, Niobe’s 14 children are systemically murdered by Apollo and Artemis. Finally, most horribly of all, Tereus rapes and mutilates Philomela, sister to his wife Procne; whereupon Procne murders their son and feeds him to his father Tereus in a stew. As unpleasent as these stories are, they were all common tales in the world of Greek mythology. How does Ovid use them? By bringing out the sheer absurdity of the violence, and by dwelling with some of the psychological forces at play, how are the stories changed? In some sense, does the violence work to sever the story from it’s traditional, banal meaning (i.e mortals shouldn’t compete with gods)? Could there be a satisfying conclusion to a story like Philomela’s, in a world where everything is transformed and nothing lasts? Could there be one in any world? What is the purpose or meaning of piety and devotion in a world where the gods are capable of such savagery? Does Ovid hate nature? Does he see nothing but decay and death, wherever he looks? It may sound bleak, but it’s actually one of our most fascinating episodes yet. If you don’t want Athena to pluck out your eyes and turn you into a bedbug, then you had better listen up.