The Double Heroides are a set of six poems allegedly composed by Ovid in Latinelegiac couplets, following the fifteen poems of his Heroides, and numbered 16 to 21 in modern scholarly editions. These six poems present three separate exchanges of paired epistles: one each from a heroic lover from Greek or Roman mythology to his absent beloved, and one from the heroine in return. Ovid's authorship is uncertain.
The Collection
The single Heroides are not listed here: see the relevant section of that article for the single epistles. The paired epistles are written as exchanges between the following heroes and heroines:
XX. Acontius to Cydippe, on his love for her, reminding her of her commitment to marry him
XXI. Cydippe’s reply to Acontius, agreeing to marry him
Selected bibliography
For further references specifically relating to that subject, please see the single Heroides bibliography.
Anderson, W. S. “The Heroides”, in J. W. Binns Ovid : 49-83.
Barchiesi, A. Review of Hintermeier, Journal of Roman Studies 85: 325-7.
___. “Vers une histoire à rebours de l'élégie latine: Les Héroides 'Doubles' ”, in A. Deremetz and J. Fabre-Serris, eds., Élégie et Épopée dans la Poésie ovidienne : En Hommage à Simone Viarre : 53–67.
Belfiore, E. “Ovid’s Encomium of Helen”, Classical Journal 76.2: 136-48.
Bessone, F. “Discussione del mito e polifonia narrativa nelle Heroides. Enone, Paride ed Elena ”, in M. Guglielmo and E. Bona, Forme di communicazione nel mondo antico e metamorfosi del mito: dal teatro al romanzo, Culture antiche, studi e testi 17 : 149-85.
Clark, S. B. “The Authorship and the Date of the Double Letters in Ovid’s Heroides”, Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 19: 121-55.
___. “Echtheitskritik: Ovidian and Non-Ovidian Heroides Again”, CJ 93: 157-66.
Cucchiarelli, A. “‘Ma il giudice delle dee non era un pastore?’ Reticenze e arte retorica di Paride ”, Materiali e discussioni per l'analisi dei testi classici 34: 135-152.
Drinkwater, M. Epic and Elegy in Ovid’s Heroides: Paris, Helen, and Homeric Intertext. Diss. Duke University.
Farrell, J. “Reading and Writing the Heroides”, Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 98: 307-338.
Hardie, P. R. Ovid's Poetics of Illusion.
Jacobson, H. Ovid's Heroides.
Jolivet, J.-C. Allusion et fiction epistolaire dans Les Heroïdes: Recherches sur l'intertextualité ovidienne, Collection de l' École Française de Rome 289.
Kenney, E. J. “Two Disputed Passages in the Heroides”, Classical Quarterly 29: 394-431.
___. “‘Dear Helen...’: The Pithanotate Prophasis?”, Papers of the Leeds Latin Seminar 8: 187-207.
Knox, P. E. “Ovid's Medea and the Authenticity of Heroides 12”, Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 90: 207-23.
___. Ovid: Heroides. Select Epistles.
___. Review of Beck, Gnomon 72: 405-8.
___. “The Heroides: Elegiac Voices”, in B. W. Boyd Brill's Companion to Ovid : 117-39.
Michalopoulos, A. N. Ovid Heroides 16 & 17: Introduction, Text and Commentary.
Nesholm, E. Rhetoric and Epistolary Exchange in Ovid’s Heroides 16-21. Diss. University of Washington.
Rosati, G. “Protesilao, Paride, e l’amante elegiaco: un modello omerico in Ovidio”, Maia 43.2: 103-14.
___. “L’elegia al femminile: le Heroides di Ovidio ”, Materiali e discussioni per l'analisi dei testi classici 29: 71-94.
Rosenmeyer, P. A. “Ovid’s Heroides and Tristia: Voices from Exile”, Ramus 26.1: 29-56.
Thompson, P. A. M. Ovid, Heroides 20 and 21, Commentary with Introduction. Diss. University of Oxford.
___. “Notes on Ovid, Heroides 20 and 21”, Classical Quarterly 43: 258-65.
Tracy, V. A. “The Authenticity of Heroides 16-21”, Classical Journal 66.4: 328-330.
Viarre, S. “Des poèmes d’Homère aux ‘Heroïdes’ d’Ovide: Le récit épique et son interpretation élégiaque”, Bulletin de l’association Guillaume Budé Ser. 4: 3.
