ABSTRACT
Ovid addresses the gods five times in the Fasti, a poem designed not only for elite males but for larger listening publics. He does so when discussing Mensis Maius, a story of Numa, an interview with Flora, astronomical information about June and Ino’s connection to Mater Matuta. He has divine informants who are said to have interacted with the narrator Ovid. They offer Q and A sessions, response to prayers, lectures and spontaneous assistance. Bards (vates) are privileged communicants (F. 6.3–8, 19–24), now in Augustan Rome as well as in legendary times, despite Cicero’s and Lucretius’ rationalist scorn for the idea. Poets and prophets chanted the gods’ messages for the people, Ovid no less than others (Tr. 3.14.23–4), in the forum, circus, theater and area Capitolina (F. 6.18).
