# Story of the Sibyl explained — Metamorphoses

> Chapter companion for Metamorphoses by Ovid.

## What happens

Apollo falls in love with the Cumaean Sibyl and grants her wish to live as many years as grains in a heap of sand, but she forgets to ask for eternal youth, so she ages over centuries. The narrative then shifts to the arrival of Aeneas at Cumae, where the Sibyl meets him, and later Macareus encounters Achaemenides.

## Themes in this chapter

### Mortality and Immortality

The Sibyl's wish for long life without eternal youth highlights the tension between mortal decay and the desire for immortality.

### Love and Desire

Apollo's love for the Sibyl drives the granting of her wish, but her oversight leads to tragic consequences.

## Character check-ins

### Apollo

Apollo, enamoured of the Sibyl, offers to grant her any wish.

### Aeneas

The Trojan prince arrives at Cumae and meets the Sibyl.

### Ulysses

Mentioned as the wise leader of Macareus, a friend who ends his labors near Cajeta.

## Key lines

> I paused: then pointing to a heap of sand, ‘For every grain, to live a year demand.’ But, ah! unmindful of the effect of time, Forgot to covenant for youth and prime.

She asked for as many years as grains of sand, but neglected to request eternal youth.

_This illustrates the Sibyl's fatal oversight in her wish._

> Seven centuries have I lived; three more fulfil The period of the years to finish still.

She has lived seven hundred years and has three hundred more to go.

_The Sibyl recounts the passage of time since her wish was granted._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/story-of-the-sibyl
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters