# Story of Erisichthon explained — Metamorphoses

> Chapter companion for Metamorphoses by Ovid.

## What happens

Erisichthon, a blasphemous mortal, defies the gods by cutting down a sacred oak in Ceres' grove, despite warnings and supernatural signs. He kills a dissenting slave and continues his sacrilege, prompting the dryads to plead for vengeance. Ceres, unable to directly inflict famine due to Fate's decree, dispatches a nymph to summon Famine to torment Erisichthon with insatiable hunger.

## Themes in this chapter

### Divine Power and Human Folly

Erisichthon's arrogant defiance of Ceres and his destruction of her sacred grove exemplify human folly in challenging divine authority, leading to inevitable punishment.

### Violence and Revenge

Erisichthon's violent act of cutting down the oak and beheading his slave provokes Ceres' vengeful plan to inflict famine upon him.

## Character check-ins

### Ceres

The goddess whose sacred grove is profaned by Erisichthon; she responds to the dryads' plea by devising a punishment of famine.

### Erisichthon

The impious son of Triope who defies Ceres, cuts down her sacred oak, and kills a slave who tries to stop him.

## Key lines

> An ancient oak in the dark centre stood, The covert's glory, and itself a wood: Garlands embraced its shaft, and from the boughs Hung tablets, monuments of prosp'rous vows.

At the heart of the grove stood a massive, ancient oak, adorned with garlands and hung with tablets as offerings for answered prayers.

_Describes the sacred oak that Erisichthon destroys._

> But when his impious hand a wound bestow'd, Blood from the mangled bark in currents flow'd.

When Erisichthon struck the tree, blood gushed from the wound in the bark.

_Highlights the supernatural nature of the oak and the gravity of Erisichthon's sacrilege._

> A dryad I, by Ceres' love preferr'd, Within the circle of this clasping rind Coeval grew, and now in ruin join'd: But instant vengeance shall thy sin pursue, And death is cheer'd with this prophetic view.

A dryad, who had lived within the oak as long as the tree itself, prophesied that Erisichthon's crime would be swiftly avenged.

_The dryad's warning foreshadows the punishment to come._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/story-of-erisichthon
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters