Rhodius Apollonius

The Argonautica (eBook, PDF)

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

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. The Argonautica is a Greek epic poem written by Apollonius Rhodius in the 3rd century BC. The only surviving Hellenistic epic, the Argonautica tells the myth of the voyage of Jason and the Argonauts to retrieve the Golden Fleece from remote Colchis. Their heroic adventures and Jason's relationship with the dangerous Colchian princess/sorceress Medea were already well known to Hellenistic audiences, which enabled Apollonius to go beyond a simple narrative, giving it a scholarly emphasis suitable to the times. It was the age of the great Library of Alexandria, and his epic incorporates his researches in geography, ethnography, comparative religion, and Homeric literature. However, his main contribution to the epic tradition lies in his development of the love between hero and heroine – he seems to have been the first narrative poet to study "the pathology of love". His Argonautica had a profound impact on Latin poetry: it was translated by Varro Atacinus and imitated by Valerius Flaccus; it influenced Catullus and Ovid; and it provided Virgil with a model for his Roman epic, the Aeneid. The Argonautica was an adventure for the poet, one of the major scholars of the Alexandrian period – it was a bold experiment in re-writing Homeric epic in a way that would meet the demanding tastes of his contemporaries. According to some accounts, a hostile reception even led to his exile to Rhodes. The literary fashion was for small, meticulous poems, featuring displays of erudition and paradoxography (the account of marvels and oddities), as represented by the work of Callimachus. In adapting the epic genre to this audience, Apollonius went a long way towards inventing the romance novel, including narrative techniques like the "interior monologue", whereby the author identifies with a character's thoughts and feelings. The re-evaluation of his work in recent times has led to a mass of innovative studies, often jostling each other for attention, so that Argonautica has become a daunting adventure for many modern scholars too.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: iOnlineShopping.com
• Erscheinungstermin: 26. Februar 2019
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9788832528732
• Artikelnr.: 55363025

Autorenporträt

Apollonius Rhodius, also known as Rhodius Apollonius, is an ancient Greek poet and scholar, best known for his epic poem 'The Argonautica'. His life dates are not precisely known but scholars posit that he flourished in the 3rd century BCE. His work, 'The Argonautica', is a singular epic that stands out due to its Hellenistic context and its divergence from the Homeric style. Unlike the works of Homer, which celebrate the heroic ethos in a relatively straightforward narrative, Apollonius's poem delves more deeply into the psychological states of its characters, particularly the hero Jason, and his volatile relationship with the sorceress Medea. 'The Argonautica' is notable for its complex narrative structure, sophisticated language, and the use of interior monologue. The poem also offers detailed depictions of divine intervention in the affairs of mortals and subtly discusses the nature of fate and destiny. Apollonius was connected with the famous Library of Alexandria and is believed to have served as its head librarian at one point, indicating his prominent scholarly stature. His work has contributed to the tradition of epic storytelling and has been analyzed for its literary innovations and influence on later authors, such as Virgil and Ovid. 'The Argonautica' remains a pivotal piece of literature, capturing the transformation of Greek culture during the Hellenistic period and the evolution of epic poetry.