Why were the 12th and 13th centuries called the age of Ovid?

The 12th and 13th centuries are often termed the "age of Ovid" because the Roman poet’s influence during this period began to rival and occasionally surpass that of Virgil.1

This era saw a general secularization and an awakening to the beauty of profane literature, during which Ovid was esteemed as both entertaining and instructive. His works were widely read in schools, and his poetry—filled with epigrammatic maxims—became a staple of medieval classical study.1

Ovid’s influence was particularly profound in the development of courtly love. His writings dominated the philosophy of love expounded in the Roman de la rose, and he became a central figure for wandering scholars, troubadours, and minnesingers.1