In December of the year 8 C.E., the great Roman poet Ovid was sent into exile, to the far reaches of the Roman Empire. In tearful farewell to his beloved city, he saw his life's work, the 15-book epic poem, The Metamorphoses, consigned to flames. Ovid died in exile, but copies of his poem survived. It became one of the most influential artistic works in history, illuminating a clear path for Western culture. Two thousand years later, Ovid's work is still lighting our way out of the dark. Damiano Pietropaolo traces its cultural journey.