Then there's another theory that has bounced around scholars for the last century or so: Ovid never was exiled. The main reason for this theory is that the only record of it is Ovid's, except for "dubious" mentions by Pliny the Elder and Statius, but no one else until the 4th century CE. He did apparently die in Tomis in 17 CE, however, and has been adopted by Romanian nationalists as "The First Romanian Poet".

Ars Amatoria is a didactic poem in three books that teaches the arts of seduction and love. It serves in part as a satire on didactic poetry. The first book is for men and covers the seduction of women. Ovid establishes himself as a teacher of love, and tells of the places one can scout for lovers, such as a theater, a triumph, or an arena. He then goes into ways of seducing a woman at a banquet, the right time to seduce her, and care of the body.

The second book is also for men, and tells them how to keep a lover. He advises men to keep up their appearance, hide affairs, don't give too many gifts, don't forget her birthday, and don't ask her age. The end of this book promotes the joy of simultaneous orgasms.

The third is addressed to women and teaches seduction techniques. He is resolved to arm women against the measures the first two books advise. He tells women not to wear too many adornments, to read elegiac poetry, learn to play games, flirt, and take on lovers of different ages. He also advises that women should make their lovers jealous so they don't become complacent. He also discusses sexual positions, with advice on choosing an appropriate one for their own bodies.

Despite the real or imagined banishment and the subsequent bannings through the centuries, Ars Amatoria is still part of the curriculum of both high schools and colleges, as it was in medieval times. If all this fuss was created by Ovid, then kudos to him for his marketing genius.