Editing Caeneus (section)

==In the ''Metamorphoses''==
[[Image:Virgil Solis - Neptune Caenis.jpg|thumb|Poseidon and Caenis, woodcut illustration for [[Ovid]]'s ''[[Metamorphoses]]'' book 12 by [[Virgil Solis]], 1563.]]

The most detailed account of Caeneus' story is found in the Roman poet [[Ovid]]'s ''[[Metamorphoses]]'', which takes up most of book 12, and has Nestor tell [[Achilles]] the story of Caeneus' transformation, the brawl between the Centaurs and the Thessalians at Pirithous' wedding feast, and Caeneus' demise.{{sfnm|Gantz|1996|1p=281|Ovid, ''Metamorphoses''|2loc=[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi006.perseus-eng1:12.146-12.209 12.168–535]}} No earlier version of the story explains why Caeneus chose to be transformed into a man; however, the ''Metamorphoses'' does.{{sfn|Gantz|1996|p=281}} According to Ovid, Caenis was the most beautiful of maidens, but refused all of her many suitors. One day, as "report declares", while walking on the beach, she was raped by the sea-god Neptune (the Roman equivalent of Poseidon). Afterwards, when the god promised to grant her any request, Caenis chose to be made a man, so that she would never suffer being raped again:{{sfnm|Tripp|1970|1loc=Caeneus|Ovid, ''Metamorphoses''|2loc=[http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi006.perseus-eng1:12.146-12.209 12.189–203]}}
{{poemquote|The great wrong,
which I have suffered from you justifies
the wonderful request that I must make;
I ask that I may never suffer such
an injury again. Grant I may be
no longer woman, and I'll ask no more.{{sfn|Ovid, ''Metamorphoses''|loc=[http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi006.perseus-eng1:12.146-12.209 12.201–203]}}}}

This Neptune did, transforming the girl into a man, and in addition making Caeneus "proof against all wounds of spear or sword". After this, Caeneus went away happy, spending "years in every manful exercise", while roaming the plains of northern Thessaly.{{sfn|Ovid, ''Metamorphoses''|loc=[http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi006.perseus-eng1:12.146-12.209 12.205–209]}}

Nestor next describes the wedding feast of Pirithous and [[Hippodamia (wife of Pirithous)|Hippodamia]], to which the Centaurs and the "Thessalian chiefs" (including Caeneus) were invited.{{sfn|Ovid, ''Metamorphoses''|loc=[http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi006.perseus-eng1:12.210-12.315 12.210–213]}} After a drunken Centaur tries to abduct Hippodamia, a brawl breaks out, during which Caeneus killed five Centaurs (Styphelus, Bromus, Antimachus, Elymus, and Pyracmos).{{sfn|Ovid, ''Metamorphoses''|loc=[http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi006.perseus-eng1:12.429-12.535 12.459–461]}} Caeneus is then mocked by the Centaur Latreus who says:
{{poemquote|Shall I put up with one like you, O Caeneus?
For you are still a woman in my sight.
Have you forgot your birth or that disgrace
by which you won reward—at what a price
you got the false resemblance to a man?!
Consider both your birth, and what you have
submitted to! Take up a distaff, and
wool basket! Twist your threads with practiced thumb!
Leave warfare to your men!{{sfn|Ovid, ''Metamorphoses''|loc=[http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi006.perseus-eng1:12.429-12.535 12.470–476]}}}}

When none of their weapons could harm him, the Centaurs buried Caeneus under mountains of trees and rocks, crushing the life out of him.{{sfn|Ovid, ''Metamorphoses''|loc=[http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi006.perseus-eng1:12.429-12.535 12.477–521]}} Nestor tells Achilles that no one knew for certain what had happened to Caeneus, and that some thought he was pushed down into [[Tartarus]]. However, when a yellow bird emerged from his burial pile, the seer [[Mopsus]] said that Caeneus had been transformed (as must happen in any ''Metamorphoses'' episode) into a bird. The story of Caeneus' metamorphosis into a bird only occurs here, and, if not an Ovidian invention, is probably a [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic]] one.{{sfnm|Hard|2004|1loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA557 p. 557]|Gantz|1996|2p=281|Ovid, ''Metamorphoses''|3loc=[http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi006.perseus-eng1:12.429-12.535 12.522–531]}}