Why did Ars amatoria conflict with Augustus’s moral reforms?

The Ars amatoria (The Art of Love) conflicted with the moral reforms of Augustus because it served as a subversive challenge to his official program, which sought to restore traditional Roman virtues, strengthen family ties, and combat adultery.123

While Ovid explicitly disclaimed any intention of teaching adultery, the poem functioned as a manual of seduction and intrigue that could easily be applied to married women. Its hedonistic tone and focus on the sophisticated, pleasure-seeking Roman aristocracy directly undermined the emperor’s efforts to reawaken a sense of responsibility and moral order in society. Furthermore, the work included tactless and provocative references to symbols of Augustus’s personal prestige, which were poorly received by those committed to the goals of Augustanism.314

Because the poem appeared while scandals involving the imperial family were fresh in the public mind, it was viewed as damaging to both the emperor’s moral agenda and the honor of his household, ultimately contributing to Ovid’s banishment in 8 ce.143