Laura Wright 
Publius Ovidius Naso (43 BC – AD 18), who we know best as Ovid, was an early Roman poet. Due to controversy in his writing, he was banished around AD 8. This event is highly debated today and many believe his banishment was fictitious.
One of his more memorable characters in his writing is that of Erysichthon. Erysichthon was the offspring of the King of Thessaly and Triopas. Erysichthon did not like the sacred grove near his home. Eventually, he ordered the entire grove of Demeter to be felled. There was a sacred tree among them. The ancient oak held wreaths symbolizing every prayer Demeter had answered.
The men stopped at the old oak, but Erysichthon was adamant. He wanted the tree cut down. When he couldn’t find anyone who would do it for him, he grabbed an axe and began chopping himself. Unfortunately, Erysichthon didn’t realize that a dryad nymph was in the vicinity. The tree fell atop the delicate creature. Its final words were a curse on Erysichthon.
Demeter came, but she was too late. The nymph was dead, but there was no stopping her wrath. Erysichthon received the full power of Demeter’s rage. He was cursed to be hungry for the rest of his life. The hunger was ravenous and unquenchable. As he ate more, he only grew hungrier.
He was reduced to selling all his possessions to buy food. He soon sold his daughter, Mestra, into slavery so he could buy more food. With nothing else to curb his insatiable need, he began to feast on his own flesh. He continued until he’d completely eaten himself.
Mestra wasn’t a slave for long because she soon was freed by Poseidon. The sea god felt sorry for her and, not only freed her from slavery, but he gave her the ability to shape shift in case anyone attempted to place her in bonds again. Another version of the myth also states Mestra gained her ability while still with her father. Upon learning of her power, he sold her repeatedly to feed his appetite.
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