Ovid is a Roman poet who positions himself as an expert on seduction. He identifies as a poor but well-educated man who relies on his charm and poetic skill rather than wealth to win over partners. He acts as an instructor offering practical, albeit sometimes contradictory, advice to both men and women.

The Roman goddess of love serves as the primary divine sponsor for the instructional poem. She validates the speaker's expertise for his male audience and explicitly commands him to write a similar guide for women. She represents the ideal of embracing romance and sexuality without hesitation.

The winged god of love operates as the speaker's former teacher. He represents a wild, unpredictable force that strikes people with sudden infatuation. The speaker views him as a power that cannot be controlled by magic but must be managed through intellect and patience.

The god of wine and revelry acts as a crucial ally in the pursuit of love. The text advises that his influence loosens inhibitions and makes people passionate and joyful. He is frequently paired with Cupid at social gatherings to aid in courtship.

The sun god and deity of intellect interrupts the text to support the speaker's credibility. He offers his own advice to lovers by emphasizing the importance of highlighting one's positive qualities. He specifically warns against lecturing romantic partners with boring poetry.

A mythic inventor who constructs wings to escape imprisonment in Crete. His story illustrates a dangerous escape attempt. The text compares his physical flight to the immense difficulty of controlling love.

The youthful son of Daedalus who ignores his father's warnings. He flies too close to the sun, causing the wax on his wings to melt before he falls into the sea.

A woman who hears a rumor that her lover is speaking to someone else in a glade. Consumed by jealousy, she hides in the brush to spy on him and suffers a tragic end.

The lover of Procris who innocently calls out to the wind for a cooling breeze. When his partner rustles the bushes, he mistakes her for a wild animal and attacks.

A mythological woman who suffers betrayal and abandonment by her first lover. She initially flees when a new divine suitor approaches her but is eventually won over.

A mythological hero cited as a standard of natural male beauty. The text also uses him as a warning to women about men who lack the true art of love and abandon their partners.

A legendary figure whose elopement caused the Trojan War. The text uses her to illustrate how a husband's long absence invites infidelity and notes that even she can look unattractive if she overeats.

A mythological husband who leaves his wife alone for far too long. The text blames his absence directly for his wife's famous affair.