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The Argonautica

Chapter 1: The Argonautica
By Rhodius Apollonius
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About This Book

The poem narrates the assembling of a company of heroes and their sea voyage to Colchis to recover a coveted golden object, recounting trials, island and city episodes, and encounters with monsters and wonders. A lengthy episode centers on the love between the leader and a sorceress, which shapes their departure and return. The narrative alternates between Homeric-style epic action and learned digressions on local legends, customs, art, and geography, reflecting Alexandrian scholarly tastes. The work balances episodic adventure with vivid description and erudition rather than a single sustained epic unity.

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Title: The Argonautica

Author: Rhodius Apollonius

Translator: R. C. Seaton

Release date: February 1, 1997 [eBook #830]
Most recently updated: January 9, 2020

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Douglas B. Killings, and David Widger

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ARGONAUTICA ***


The Argonautica

by Apollonius Rhodius

Originally written in Ancient Greek sometime in the 3rd Century B.C. by the Alexandrian poet Apollonius Rhodius (“Apollonius the Rhodian”). Translation by R.C. Seaton, 1912.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY: ORIGINAL TEXT—

Seaton, R.C. (Ed. & Trans.): “Apollonius Rhodius: Argonautica” (Harvard University Press, Cambridge MA, 1912). Original Greek text with side-by-side English translation.

OTHER TRANSLATIONS—

Rieu, E.V. (Trans.): “Apollonius of Rhodes: The Voyage of the Argo” (Penguin Classics, London, 1959, 1971).

RECOMMENDED READING—

Euripides: “Medea”, “Hecabe”, “Electra”, and “Heracles”, translated by Philip Vellacott (Penguin Classics, London, 1963). Contains four plays by Euripides, two of which concern characters from “The Argonautica”.

Contents

INTRODUCTION
THE ARGONAUTICA
BOOK I
BOOK II
BOOK III
BOOK IV
ENDNOTES