Publius Ovidius Naso, was born in 43 B.C.E. in Sulmo (Sulmona). Educated in Rome, he traveled widely in Greece, Asia Minor, and Sicily, where he became particularly interested in Greek mythology. In 8 C.E. he was exiled from Rome by Augustus for reasons which remain unclear. He died in 17 or 18 C.E. Ovid is generally considered to be one of the most important if not “the most” important of the Imperial period poets.