This tale describes a voyage by heroes and demigods in the generation preceding those of the trojan war. Valerius effectively rehandles the story already told by apollonius rhodius, recalls virgilian language and thought, displays learning, and alludes to contemporary rome. It is a masterpiece whose story was well known to the audiences of the time. Apollonii argonautica classic reprint book by apollonius of. Valerius flaccus, argonautica book 1 theoi classical. The argonautica summary, summary of the argonautica, the. The argonautica apollonius of rhodes ancient greece. The commentary proper addresses narrower textual and semantic questions, on the one hand, and broader questions of. This homeric echo has ominous connotations, prefiguring jasons betrayal of hypsipyle and medea.
But the thing that really sets the argonautica apart from its predecessors is that the argonautica is a love. With an average reading speed of 420 words per minute, you will finish reading this book in about 3 hours. On the part of apollonius there is a passage in the third book of the argonautica ll. Valerius flaccus argonautica, book 1 andrew zissos.
Argonautika is a greek epic poem written by apollonius rhodius in the 3rd century bc. Apollonius rhodius, argonautica, book 1, line 260 tufts university. The argonautica has been divided into the following sections. His jason and medea are natural and interesting, and did much to inspire virgil in a very different setting in the fourth book of the aeneid. Virgil and other later poets were greatly influenced by it. Pelias has received an oracle about a man with one sandal. Gaius valerius flaccus this book is a philological and literary commentary on the first book of the argonautica, a latin epic written by valerius flaccus in the first century a.
The argonautica is the best known work by the 3rd century bce hellenistic poet and scholar, apollonius of rhodes. Beginning with you, phoebus, i shall recall the famous deeds of men born long ago, who, at the command of king pelias, sailed the wellbenched argo through the mouth of the black sea and between the cyanean rocks 1 to fetch the golden fleece. Homeric echoes in argonautica are quite deliberate and are not slavish imitation. The book is highly successful in demonstrating the importance of the argonautica for the aeneid as a whole. Jan 19, 2015 the argonautica apollonius rhodius 3rd cent. Valerius completed five books and part of a sixth, drawing on apollonius and a plethora of ancient sources, many of which are now lost or known. Argonautica valerius flaccus harvard university press. Valerius flaccus, argonautica book 1 theoi classical texts. As jason enters the grove of the golden fleece, the dragon roars and almost swallows jason whole. The only surviving greek epic to bridge the gap between homer and late antiquity, this epic poem is the crowning literary achievement of the ptolemaic court at alexandria, written by appolonius of rhodes in the third century bc. The ship argos is built by argos son of arestor this is not the same as phrixos son argos with the advice of athena. The argonautica by apollonius the internet classics archive.
Along with his contemporaries callimachus and theocritus, apollonius refashioned greek poetry to meet the interests and aesthetics of a hellenistic audience, especially that of alexandria in the ptolemaic period following alexanders death. He resolves to send jason on a voyage full of suffering. Apolloniuss argonautica is one of the better minor epics, remarkable for originality, powers of observation, sincere feeling, and depiction of romantic love. The argonautica, by apollonius rhodius project gutenberg. The argonautica is a greek epic poem written by apollonius rhodius in the 3rd century bc. Apollonius was royal librarian under ptolemy ii philadelphus during the central years of his reign perhaps c. Classical texts library valerius flaccus, argonautica book 1. Jason and the golden fleece by apollonius of rhodes. The argonautica is by no means to be despised, being distinguished by the consistency with which apollonius maintains his level as a representative of the intermediate type. I have many books from the loeb classical library and they are all excellent this copy of the argonautica has a clear prose translation of the text and is wellwritten. The only surviving greek epic written between homers lifetime and. The argonautica summary and study guide are also available on the mobile version of the website.
Apollonius of rhodes jason and the golder fleece argonautica. When jason first meets hypsipyle in book 1, he wears a cloak made for him by athena, embroidered with various scenes alluding to tragic women that homers odysseus met in hades odyssey 11. The story of the argonauts was a traditional cycle of myths which apollonius of rhodes wove into this saga at the turn of the third century bce. As the monster starts to snooze, jason grabs the golden fleece, and with medea and the argonauts in tow, he makes a break for the argo. But though he had ceased they still bent forward with eagerness all hushed to quiet, with ears intent on the enchanting strain. Andrew zissos this commentary on the first book of valerius flaccus argonautica also includes an introduction, the text with apparatus criticus and a. Read the argonautica by the argonautica available from rakuten kobo. The argonautica, also known as jason and the golden fleece or jason and the argonauts, is the only surviving epic poem from hellenistic greece.
Book 1 book 2 book 3 book 4 the argonautica tells the story of the journey of jason and the argonauts to the land of colchis in search of the golden fleece. But if one of the blessed gods should turn this aside yet countless other woes, worse than battle, remain behind, when the aged women. The argonautica ebook by the argonautica 9788827510889. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The argonautica by apollonius, part of the internet classics archive.
The project gutenberg ebook of the argonautica, by apollonius rhodius this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the united states and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. The argonautica is the dramatic story of jasons quest for the golden fleece and his relations with the dangerous princess medea. A text with apparatus criticus, translation, and commentary, with introduction, of the first book of valerius flaccus argonautica, an unfinished roman epic extending to eight books and several thousand lines, written in the flavian period 6996 ce. It is an epic poem in the style of homer, and tells the story of jason and the argonauts and their quest for the golden fleece. It is one of the few extent greek epic poems available. The argonautica is the dramatic story of jasons quest for the golden fleece and his relations with the dangerous colchian princess, medea. The only extant greek epic poem to bridge the gap between homer and late antiquity, it is a major product of the brilliant world of the ptolemaic courtat alexandria, written by apollonius of rhodes in the 3rd century bc. So get hooked on and start relishing the argonautica overview and detailed summary. The argonautica by apollonius rhodius full text free book. This work provides a full commentary on the first book of valerius flaccus argonautica, an epic which has received increased attention in the last few decades, as may be seen from two recent editions 1997 and 2003. Apollonius of rhodes, argonautica loeb classical library. His only surviving work is an unfinished epic poem entitled the argonautica, describing the voyage of the argonauts in their quest for the golden fleece. The argonautica apollonius of rhodes ancient greece classical.
Medea, consort of aegeus, king of athens mythological character category. The commentary addresses both textual and semantic matters and broader questions of stylistics, poetics, thematics, and cultural context. Apollonius rhodiuss argonautica, composed in the 3rd century bce, is the epic retelling of jasons quest for the golden fleece. Non tamen contemnendum edidit opus aequali quadam mediocritate. Apollonius rhodius, argonautica loeb classical library. Ad 90 was a 1st century roman poet who flourished during the silver age under the flavian dynasty, and wrote a latin argonautica that owes a great deal to apollonius of rhodes more famous epic. Right at the last moment, jason sprays the serpent in the face with a sleeping potion, courtesy of medea. The introduction and notes are by reputable scholars that always add to the understanding of the text. Passing the river acheron one of the entrances to hades, they are warmly.
Apollonius rhodius, argonautica book 1 theoi classical. In the argonautica, the argo is a magical ship because. Vergils aeneid and the argonautica of apollonius rhodius. Tufts university provided support for entering this text. Valerius flaccus was a roman poet who flourished in the late c1st a. The story of how jason and a group of famous heroes of greece took to sea in the argos has been told many times, before and after apollonius of rhodes, wrote his argonautica, in the 3rd century b.