being presided over by Juno, Venus, and Hymenaios. The story of Iphis is similar to that of Leucippus from Phaestus, Crete, and could be a variant thereof. Interpretations The story of Iphis and Ianthe is the only mythological account of female same-sex desire, not only in Ovid, but in all of Graeco-Roman mythology. Whether Ovid disapproves of or is sympathetic toward female homoerotic desire has been a point of contention for scholars. The main social inscription in this myth is the need for a male heir in a patriarchal society and the inevitable misogyny this creates. In popular culture The 17th-century publisher Humphrey Moseley once claimed to possess a manuscript of a play based on the Iphis and Ianthe story, by William Shakespeare. Scholars have treated the claim with intense skepticism; the play has not survived. Ali Smith's 2007 novel Girl Meets Boy is based on Ovid's story of Iphis and Ianthe, and is part of the Canongate Myth Series. The Mechanisms' 2013 album Tales To Be Told features a song called "Iphis" based on the story of Iphis and Ianthe. Liberty of London has fabric and leatherwork patterns named after both Iphis and Ianthe. Note References Publius Ovidius Naso, Metamorphoses translated by Brookes More (1859-1942). Boston, Cornhill Publishing Co. 1922. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Publius Ovidius Naso, Metamorphoses. Hugo Magnus. Gotha (Germany). Friedr. Andr. Perthes. 1892. Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library. Metamorphoses into the opposite sex in Greek mythology Metamorphoses characters Cretan characters in Greek mythology Characters in Roman mythology Transgender topics and mythology LGBT themes in Greek mythology Fictional LGBT characters in literature