The epic of creation, which, along with the Bible, forms one of the two pillars of Western culture.

“If the poet’s premonition is not wrong, I declare that I, who have gained immortality through fame, will live forever.”

The Metamorphoses is considered the greatest example of Greco-Roman mythology, not only for its vast content but also for its beautiful writing style.
It could be said that Western medieval culture was formed around two axes: Christianity and Ovid's Metamorphoses.
In that sense, this book preserves intact the cognitive system of ancient Western thought that had not yet been influenced by Christianity.
Meanwhile, it has also become a source of artistic creation that has stimulated the imagination of countless writers, poets, and painters across time.
The rich motifs and poetic imaginations of the world contained in this book will provide the most basic knowledge to those who wish to approach Western humanities.
Furthermore, it will enable a mythical experience that transcends the long period of time between the distant time when the heavens opened and the era when humans first began to live.
─ Lee Yun-gi, from “Translator’s Note”

At a time when there was no sea, no land, and no sky to cover all things, nature, when viewed across the universe, had a vague and voluminous appearance, as if it were spread out in a vast expanse.
This vast spread is called chaos, and this chaos was nothing more than a lump without form or order.
In other words, all the elements that had not yet solidified into lifeless optimal objects were just jostling and swaying without any boundaries.
There were no Titans here yet to shed their abundant light upon the world, nor was there Phoebe to puff out the bowstring of the crescent moon as the days passed.
The earth was not yet able to bear its weight in the atmosphere that surrounded it, and Amphitrite was not yet able to stretch her arms along the edge of the earth.
--- pp.15-16

The beginning was a golden age.
In this era, there were no officials or laws... no punishments... even pine trees were mercilessly cut down in the mountains and rivers of one's hometown... and it was okay not to be dragged off to another government.
There was no need for war trenches or anything like that in the village.

--- p.20