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Jason and the Golden Fleece: (The Argonautica)
The Argonautica is the dramatic story of Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece and his relations with the dangerous princess Medea. 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. Appollonius expl...more
Paperback, 175 pages
Published
February 1st 2009
by Oxford University Press, USA
(first published -250)
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Here is an adventure tale that continues to impress itself upon our lives. Though little is known about the author, the story is one of iconic legend accompanied by many a commentary on Hellenic origin myths. The writing is often quite lyrical, and many situations are dealt with in a humorous combination of overstatement and wry remark.
What impressed me the most as I read this book was the author's keen eye for human nature and the dramatic moment. This story is in many ways still...more
What impressed me the most as I read this book was the author's keen eye for human nature and the dramatic moment. This story is in many ways still...more
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This is the ancient Greek story of Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece. It's often neglected in literature classes, though the Greeks regarded it as practically equal to Homer's work. Most people have heard of Jason and the Argonauts, though, mainly due to the 1960's adventure movie with stop-motion monsters. Apollonius' first printing of The Argonautica was universally hated, but years later he rewrote and refined it, and it was finally embraced by his audience, which is an amazing story in its...more
The Argonautica is the dramatic story of Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece and his relations with the dangerous Princess Medea. "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
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 B.C.
Apollonius explores many of the fundamental aspects of life in ...more
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 B.C.
Apollonius explores many of the fundamental aspects of life in ...more
I still remember being twelve years old and walking home after seeing Ray Harryhausen’s movie Jason and the Argonauts. I was absolutely exhilarated. While Harryhausen’s style of stop action animation seems primitive compared with today’s CGI effects, it was state of the art at the time, and I realized that movies could show me things I’d never see in real life.
I just found out this year that there was a text version, rather than an oral tradition, so I ordered Jason and the Golde...more
I just found out this year that there was a text version, rather than an oral tradition, so I ordered Jason and the Golde...more
The Argonautika is an epic from late ancient Greece, after Alexander but before the Roman invasion. It is about Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece, for which he voyages to the remote reaches of the Black Sea. There he survives the ordeal which king Aiêtês, the owner of the Fleece, assigns him, then steals the fleece and escapes with the king’s daughter Mêdeia who has been secretly helping him.
It is less than half as long as the Homeric epics and so the details of plot and character ...more
It is less than half as long as the Homeric epics and so the details of plot and character ...more
Cool idea. Cool title. Cool behind-the-scenes story of how it came to be performed and written (feud between Callimachus & his student, Apollonius). Ultimately, I have to side with Callimachus on this one. Cyclic/Epic poetry as a form 500+ years after Homer put the world on its ear with The Iliad & The Odyssey was dead. Well, maybe not. Virgil has something to say about it, doesn't he? But apparently the Greek world was full of imitators. And bad ones, at that. Apollonius, my misguided friend, y...more
I love the story yet for me it was ruined by page after page of Listing of EVERY hero's lineage and EVERY island no matter how insignificant the Argonauts traveled by
I liked parts of this story, while other parts didn't cut the epic feel. My book is the Penguin Classics translated by E. V. Rieu.
Seemed a little derivative of the Percy Jackson series...
Though Jason and Medea getting married and (I assume) living happily ever after is a plus for a romantic like me.
Though Jason and Medea getting married and (I assume) living happily ever after is a plus for a romantic like me.
I kinda don't like the more than detailed descriptions of Medea's emotion...surprised this is actually written by a male
This book is the oringal story of Jason and the golden fleece. Greek gods and myths have always held a certain fascination for me, and I remember watching the movie Jason and the Argonauts when I was a girl. I loved reading how the gods helped Jason on his quest and about the fire breathing bulls he had to defeat in order to get the fleece. However, for those of you who don't really like Homer, this is more of the same style. I found it fascinating, but it was very slow.
In terms of everything from character development and thematic meaning to plot structure and lyrical description, this classical epic is far better than Homer's Odyssey and almost all of the heroic, mythological tales of Ancient Greece. Okay, so it was written almost five hundred years after and heavily inspired by Homer, but its superiority shines. A very engaging and thought-provoking tale, full of numerous interesting anecdotes and subplots.
Good, but not great--mostly due to my own fault in not understanding references, I'm sure. There were some bits of fabulous stuff in here--but the lists upon lists... and more lists fall very flat for me.
It is too bad that this is a prose translation of a very intricate bit of Greek poetry. Apollonius works best when describing some of the scenes in his work, but does not do a very good job tying everything together. However, it is an essential read to complement Vergil, as the work very clearly influenced the much more polished Aeneid.
It may be that I approached the book with a bad mindset. I expected it to be very much in the same style as the Iliad and the Odyssey, but it was written in a different time, different style, and to a different audience than the great Homeric Epics. Much more dry, much more bland than Homer's works, but also much shorter.
A shorter epic for those who don't have the time for Homer, The Argonautika tells the story of Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece. Apollonios presents a nuanced and character driven telling of this ancient myth and the Peter Green translation is incredibly readable.
An impressive work: lovely and lyrical writing, a deft portrayal of human nature, and everything you could ask for in a story of high adventure.
I honestly don't remember a thing about this book because I was on Greek Mythology Overload. I strongly recommend not reading this book in succession with The Illiad and The Oddesy.
I was maybe in fourth grade when i fell in love with this book. I don't know how many times I've read it but I could always read it again... if I can find it.
This reminds me of why I majored in history. The story of Jason and the Argonauts has always been one of my favorites--I even like the cheesy 1963 movie.
Not as fascinating as Iliad or even Odysee. Iliad remaines Empire Strikes Back. Golden fleece for me was a disapointing Phantom Menace.
My favorite piece of Greek literature. A good old fashioned adventure series with a twist of tragic romance.
I'm a sucker for mythology. I just love it! And the epic struggles in this story continue to amaze me.
So far just average. Liked the Iliad and the Aenead a lot better
Good book, bad ending.
Good book, bad ending.
I had to translate this for my Latin class in high school, over and over and over again.
One of the unavoidable myths to read. It's not too bad.
The classic account of the Golden Fleece business.
Obviously worth reading.
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