New Classroom Activity: Ovid and The Art of Love

The modern date night may be dinner and a movie – but how did Ancient Romans approach romance?

Latin instructor Skye Shirley has put together an engaging classroom activity that brings the culture and history of Rome to life through the analysis of a unique primary resource, Ovid’s Ars Amatoria or “The Art of Love.” Most famous for his epic poem The Metamorpheses, Ovid wrote the Arms Amatoria as a helpful guide to dating etiquette, including tips for potential suitors and vividly describing the settings of Rome.

Download the Lesson Plan

Perfect for Latin, History, and Literature courses, as well as many others, students will learn:

• How to engage meaningfully with a primary source
• Functions and descriptions of ancient Roman buildings
• How to compare cultural norms from the past with their own day-to-day lives