The Argonautika : The Story of Jason and the Quest for the Golden Fleece - Apollonios Rhodios

by: Green, P.

Price: 35,00 EURO

1 copy in stock

The Argonautika, the only surviving epic of the Hellenistic era, is a retelling of the tale of Jason and the Golden Fleece, probably the oldest extant Greek myth. Jason, a young prince, is sent on a perilous expedition but comes through various ordeals with the aid of the king's daughter, Medeia, winning the golden fleece and carrying off Medeia herself. He is a very modern figure, not at all Achillean: almost an anti-hero. Along the way, the story incorporates vivid accounts of early exploration and colonizing ventures. Peter Green's lively, readable verse translation captures the swift narrative movement of Apollonios's epic Greek.Apollonios Rhodios (c. 305-235 B.C.), the author of the Argonautika, was appointed Chief Librarian in the legendary library at Alexandria around 265 B.C. His first draft of this poem, composed when he was a very young man, drew scornful reactions from the literati of the day, Kallimachos in particular, who thought epic passé and long poems vulgar. Apollonios withdrew to the maritime island of Rhodes (his work is notable for its nautical expertise), where he hammered out the text as we know it today, returning to eventual success in the city that had rejected him. The compromise that resulted is a fascinating combination of age-old myth and modern treatment that produces a gripping and unforgettable narrative. Peter Green has translated this renowned poem with skill and wit, offering a refreshing interpretation of a timeless story.Alternate spelling: Argonautica, Apollonius Rhodius

Table of Contents
LIST OF MAPS
PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Introduction
THE ARGONAUTIKA
Commentary

ABBREVIATIONS
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
GLOSSARY
MAPS
INDEX

The Argonautika : The Story of Jason and the Quest for the Golden Fleece - Apollonios Rhodios

by: Green, P.

• ISBN-13: 9780520076877 / 978-0-520-07687-7
• ISBN-03: 0520076877 / 0-520-07687-7
• University of California Press, Berkeley, 1997

Price: 35,00 EURO

1 copy in stock