May 3: World Press Freedom Day

In a democracy, everybody has the right to express an opinion. But this freedom of speech has been challenged since antiquity. Take the Roman poet Ovid, who was exiled for his book “The Art of Love”. Now, his views are quite outrageous: “Force is allowed, girls like a certain sort, they’re often less reluctant than they thought.” “Most girls reject what’s here and love what goes; eliminate boredom, don’t stand so close.” “Everything feminine is ruled by lust, it’s more acute than ours, and more unjust.” “To list each meretricious girl’s technique is more than ten mouths and ten tongues can speak.” “It’s only justice then to lie to liars, let woman feel the outrage she inspires.” Offensive? Misogynistic? For a modern audience, without a doubt. But his fellow Romans all agreed that women couldn’t be trusted. So, why was he exiled then? Well, emperor August had just passed a law against adultery, and he felt dat Ovid’s publication undermined his authority. Hmm… Not much has changed, right?

Ovid banished from Rome, William Turner, National Gallery of Art, London, UK

Ovid, statue, Ettore Ferrari, Constanta, Romania