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Apollonius Rhodius · 3rd century BC

Argonautica

Ἀργοναυτικά
Ancient Sources / Apollonius Rhodius / Argonautica

The Argonautica, four books of hexameter verse, tells how Jason sails to Colchis with the Argonauts to fetch the Golden Fleece, wins it with the help of the king's daughter Medea, and brings it home by a long and wandering route. Books 1 and 2 carry the ship from Iolcus through Lemnos, the loss of Heracles and the passage of the Clashing Rocks to the shore of Colchis; Book 3 is the love of Medea and Jason and the trials set by Aeetes; Book 4 is the flight, the murder of Apsyrtus, the wanderings through the Adriatic, Libya and Crete, and the return to Iolcus. Seaton's prose translation carries no line numbers, so each paragraph is matched to a run of Greek lines; the line ranges are approximate.

Read from the start
Text
Greek original with English translation, 49 passages, about 59200 words in English.
Translator
R. C. Seaton (1912)
Edition
George W. Mooney (ed.), Apollonii Rhodii Argonautica, London: Longmans, Green, 1912 (Greek text as digitised by Perseus)
Cite as
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1.1 (by book, line)

Contents · 49 passages

  1. 1.1–121Pelias' oracle and the catalogue of the Argonauts1109 words
  2. 1.122–233The catalogue of the Argonauts, continued1044 words
  3. 1.234–305The Argonauts leave Iolcus; Alcimede's lament747 words
  4. 1.306–447Jason is chosen leader and Argo is launched1490 words
  5. 1.448–558The feast, Orpheus' song and the departure from Pagasae1143 words
  6. 1.559–720Hypsipyle and the women of Lemnos1624 words
  7. 1.721–909Jason and Hypsipyle on Lemnos1934 words
  8. 1.910–988Samothrace and the welcome of Cyzicus806 words
  9. 1.989–1077The Earthborn monsters and the night battle at Cyzicus898 words
  10. 1.1078–1152The halcyon's omen and the rites for the Mother on Dindymum747 words
  11. 1.1153–1260Heracles' oar breaks and Hylas is lost1134 words
  12. 1.1261–1362Heracles and Polyphemus are left behind1050 words
  13. 2.1–98Polydeuces and Amycus: the boxing match1007 words
  14. 2.99–177The Bebrycians are routed; arrival at Phineus' land758 words
  15. 2.178–300Phineus and the Harpies1330 words
  16. 2.301–447Phineus' prophecy of the voyage to Colchis1532 words
  17. 2.448–527Paraebius and the Etesian winds810 words
  18. 2.528–647Through the Clashing Rocks1221 words
  19. 2.648–719Thynias and the epiphany of Apollo723 words
  20. 2.720–814Lycus and the Mariandyni953 words
  21. 2.815–910The deaths of Idmon and Tiphys1013 words
  22. 2.911–1029Sthenelus' barrow, Sinope and the Amazons1154 words
  23. 2.1030–1225The birds of Ares and the sons of Phrixus1961 words
  24. 2.1226–1285Argo reaches the river Phasis620 words
  25. 3.1–166Hera and Athena ask Cypris to make Medea love Jason1658 words
  26. 3.167–298Medea falls in love with Jason1336 words
  27. 3.299–438The banquet and Aeetes' demands1478 words
  28. 3.439–575The heroes decide to ask Medea for help1424 words
  29. 3.576–743Aeetes' plot, Medea's dream and Chalciope's plea1760 words
  30. 3.744–911Medea's night of torment1663 words
  31. 3.912–1025Jason and Medea meet at the temple of Hecate1140 words
  32. 3.1026–1162Medea's charm and the lovers' parting1339 words
  33. 3.1163–1277Hecate's rites and the arming of Jason and Aeetes1148 words
  34. 3.1278–1407Jason yokes the fire-breathing bulls1352 words
  35. 4.1–91Medea's flight to the Argo969 words
  36. 4.92–211Jason takes the Golden Fleece1202 words
  37. 4.212–349Aeetes' pursuit and the route home1418 words
  38. 4.350–444Medea and Jason plan the death of Apsyrtus1006 words
  39. 4.445–551The murder of Apsyrtus1073 words
  40. 4.552–684Zeus' anger and the voyage to Circe's island1305 words
  41. 4.685–782Circe purifies Jason and Medea1028 words
  42. 4.783–884Hera and Thetis1052 words
  43. 4.885–981The Sirens, the Wandering Rocks and Scylla993 words
  44. 4.982–1123Medea appeals to Arete on Drepane1476 words
  45. 4.1124–1227The marriage of Jason and Medea in Macris' cave1021 words
  46. 4.1228–1392Storm and the Libyan Syrtis1619 words
  47. 4.1393–1536The Hesperides' spring; the deaths of Canthus and Mopsus1464 words
  48. 4.1537–1693Triton, and Talos of Crete1640 words
  49. 4.1694–1781Darkness at sea and the return to Iolcus873 words

English translation by R. C. Seaton (1912). Original text: George W. Mooney (ed.), Apollonii Rhodii Argonautica, London: Longmans, Green, 1912 (Greek text as digitised by Perseus).

Greek text and translation from the Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Perseus Digital Library, Greek text); translation public domain. Introductions, summaries and notes © GreekMythology.com.