# Egeria Transformed to a Fountain explained — Metamorphoses

> Chapter companion for Metamorphoses by Ovid.

## What happens

Egeria, the wife of Numa, is consumed by grief after her husband's death. As she weeps inconsolably, the god Apollo takes pity on her and transforms her into a fountain whose waters flow eternally. The chapter also recounts the miraculous emergence of Tages from a clod of earth, who teaches prophecy to the Etruscans, and a similar wonder involving Romulus's lance taking root and growing into a tree.

## Themes in this chapter

### Transformation and Metamorphosis

Egeria is transformed into a fountain by Apollo, and a clod of earth becomes the prophet Tages.

### Mortality and Immortality

Egeria's mortal grief is assuaged by an immortal transformation, and the earth gives birth to a prophetic being.

## Character check-ins

### Apollo

Pitying Egeria's grief, Apollo transforms her into a fountain.

### Romulus

His lance, fixed in the earth, sprouts leaves and takes root, creating an unexpected shade.

## Key lines

> The dropping tears her eyes incessant shed, Till pitying Phoebus eased her pious wo, Thaw’d to a spring, whose streams for ever flow.

Her tears fell without ceasing until Apollo, moved by her devotion, transformed her into a perpetual spring.

_Describes Egeria's metamorphosis into a fountain._

> The spreading mass, in former shape deposed, Began to shoot, and arms and legs disclosed, Till, form’d a perfect man, the living mould Oped its new mouth, and future truths foretold.

The lump of earth expanded, sprouted limbs, and became a fully formed man who began to prophesy.

_Depicts the miraculous birth of Tages from a clod of earth._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/egeria-transformed-to-a-fountain
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters