Apollonius of Rhodes: Argonautica Book III (Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics)

Composed in the third century B.C., the Argonautica is the only extant Greek epic between Homer and the later Roman Empire. It tells of Jason's successful expedition with the Argonauts to recover the Golden Fleece from Colchis on the Black Sea. Medea, a young Colchian princess, falls in love with Jason and helps him survive the ordeals imposed by her father. The description of Medea's emotional suffering exercised a profound influence on subsequent writers and especially on Virgil in his account of Dido and Aeneas. Dr. Hunter's edition provides a comprehensive introduction to the poem and its poet, an up-to-date text of Book III and a full commentary that discusses the problems of language and translation. He also delves into the poetic meaning of the work and Apollonius' creative use of the Homeric heritage. "Apollonius Rhodius's Argonautica, composed in the third century B.C.E., is the epic retelling of Jason's quest for the golden fleece. 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 Alexander's death. In this carefully crafted work of 5,835 hexameter verses in four books, the author draws on the preceding literary traditions of epic (Homer), lyric (Pindar), and tragedy (especially Euripides) but creates an innovative and complex narrative that includes geography, religion, ethnography, mythology, adventure, exploration, human psychology, and, most of all, the coming of age and love affair of Jason and Medea. It greatly influenced Roman authors such as Catullus, Virgil, and Ovid, and was imitated by Valerius Flaccus." "This new edition of the first volume in the Loeb Classical Library offers a fresh translation and an improved text."--BOOK JACKET.

composed In The Third Century B.c., The Argonautica Is The Only Extant Greek Epic Between Homer And The Later Roman Empire. It Tells Of Jason's Successful Expedition With The Argonauts To Recover The Golden Fleece From Colchis On The Black Sea. Medea, A Young Colchian Princess, Falls In Love With Jason And Helps Him Survive The Ordeals Imposed By Her Father. The Description Of Medea's Emotional Suffering Exercised A Profound Influence On Subsequent Writers And Especially On Virgil In His Account Of Dido And Aeneas.dr. Hunter's Edition Provides A Comprehensive Introduction To The Poem And Its Poet, An Up-to-date Text Of Book Iii And A Full Commentary That Discusses The Problems Of Language And Translation. He Also Delves Into The Poetic Meaning Of The Work And Apollonius' Creative Use Of The Homeric Heritage.

This work provides an introduction to the "Argonautica" and its poet, an up-to-date text of Book III and a full commentary which covers problems of language and translation as well as dealing with the poetic meaning of the work and Apollonius' creative use of the Homeric heritage. The tripartite structure of the story, outward journey - Colchis - return journey, is marked by invocations at the head of Books 1, 3 and 4.