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The Argonautica
The Argonautica
Apollonius Rhodius
（fl。 3rd Century B。C。）
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The Argonautica
INTRODUCTION
Much has been written about the chronology of Alexandrian literature
and the famous Library； founded by Ptolemy Soter； but the dates of the
chief writers are still matters of conjecture。 The birth of Apollonius
Rhodius is placed by scholars at various times between 296 and 260 B。C。；
while the year of his death is equally uncertain。 In fact； we have very
little information on the subject。 There are two 〃lives〃 of Apollonius in
the Scholia； both derived from an earlier one which is lost。 From these we
learn that he was of Alexandria by birth； （1） that he lived in the time of the
Ptolemies； and was a pupil of Callimachus； that while still a youth he
composed and recited in public his 〃Argonautica〃； and that the poem was
condemned； in consequence of which he retired to Rhodes； that there he
revised his poem； recited it with great applause； and hence called himself a
Rhodian。 The second 〃life〃 adds： 〃Some say that he returned to
Alexandria and again recited his poem with the utmost success； so that he
was honoured with the libraries of the Museum and was buried with
Callimachus。〃 The last sentence may be interpreted by the notice of
Suidas； who informs us that Apollonius was a contemporary of
Eratosthenes； Euphorion and Timarchus； in the time of Ptolemy Euergetes；
and that he succeeded Eratosthenes in the headship of the Alexandrian
Library。 Suidas also informs us elsewhere that Aristophanes at the age of
sixty…two succeeded Apollonius in this office。 Many modern scholars
deny the 〃bibliothecariate〃 of Apollonius for chronological reasons； and
there is considerable difficulty about it。 The date of Callimachus' 〃Hymn
to Apollo〃； which closes with some lines （105…113） that are admittedly an
allusion to Apollonius； may be put with much probability at 248 or 247
B。C。 Apollonius must at that date have been at least twenty years old。
Eratosthenes died 196…193 B。C。 This would make Apollonius seventy…
two to seventy…five when he succeeded Eratosthenes。 This is not
impossible； it is true； but it is difficult。 But the difficulty is taken away if
we assume with Ritschl that Eratosthenes resigned his office some years
before his death； which allows us to put the birth of Apollonius at about
280； and would solve other difficulties。 For instance； if the Librarians
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The Argonautica
were buried within the precincts； it would account for the burial of
Apollonius next to CallimachusEratosthenes being still alive。 However
that may be； it is rather arbitrary to take away the 〃bibliothecariate〃 of
Apollonius； which is clearly asserted by Suidas； on account of
chronological calculations which are themselves uncertain。 Moreover； it
is more probable that the words following 〃some say〃 in the second 〃life〃
are a remnant of the original life than a conjectural addition； because the
first 〃life〃 is evidently incomplete； nothing being said about the end of
Apollonius' career。
The principal event in his life； so far as we know； was the quarrel with
his master Callimachus； which was most probably the cause of his
condemnation at Alexandria and departure to Rhodes。 This quarrel appears
to have arisen from differences of literary aims and taste； but； as literary
differences often do； degenerated into the bitterest personal strife。 There
are references to the quarrel in the writings of both。 Callimachus attacks
Apollonius in the passage at the end of the 〃Hymn to Apollo〃； already
mentioned； also probably in some epigrams； but most of all in his 〃Ibis〃；
of which we have an imitation； or perhaps nearly a translation； in Ovid's
poem of the same name。 On the part of Apollonius there is a passage in
the third book of the 〃Argonautica〃 （11。 927…947） which is of a polemical
nature and stands out from the context； and the well…known savage
epigram upon Callimachus。 （2） Various combinations have been
attempted by scholars； notably by Couat； in his 〃Poesie Alexandrine〃； to
give a connected account of the quarrel； but we have not data sufficient to
determine the order of the attacks； and replies； and counter…attacks。 The
〃Ibis〃 has been thought to mark the termination of the feud on the curious
ground that it was impossible for abuse to go further。 It was an age when
literary men were more inclined to comment on writings of the past than
to produce original work。 Literature was engaged in taking stock of itself。
Homer was； of course； professedly admired by all； but more admired than
imitated。 Epic poetry was out of fashion and we find many epigrams of
this periodsome by Callimachusdirected against the 〃cyclic〃 poets； by
whom were meant at that time those who were always dragging in
conventional and commonplace epithets and phrases peculiar to epic
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The Argonautica
poetry。 Callimachus was in accordance with the spirit of the age when he
proclaimed 〃a great book〃 to be 〃a great evil〃； and sought to confine
poetical activity within the narrowest limits both of subject and space。
Theocritus agreed with him； both in principle and practice。 The chief
characteristics of Alexandrianism are well summarized by Professor
Robinson Ellis as follows： 〃Precision in form and metre； refinement in
diction； a learning often degenerating into pedantry and obscurity； a
resolute avoidance of everything commonplace in subject； sentiment or
allusion。〃 These traits are more prominent in Callimachus than in
Apollonius； but they are certainly to be seen in the latter。 He seems to
have written the 〃Argonautica〃 out of bravado； to show that he could write
an epic poem。 But the influence of the age was too strong。 Instead of
the unity of an Epic we have merely a series of episodes； and it is the great
beauty and power of one of these episodes that gives the poem its
permanent valuethe episode of the love of Jason and Medea。 This
occupies the greater part of the third book。 The first and second books
are taken up with the history of the voyage to Colchis； while the fourth
book describes the return voyage。 These portions constitute a metrical
guide book； filled no doubt with many pleasing episodes； such as the rape
of Hylas； the boxing match between Pollux and Amyeus； the account of
Cyzicus； the account of the Amazons； the legend of Talos； but there is no
unity running through the poem beyond that of the voyage itself。
The Tale of the Argonauts had been told often before in verse and
prose； and many authors' names are given in the Scholia to Apollonius； but
their works have perished。 The best known earlier account that we have
is that in Pindar's fourth Pythian ode； from which Apollonius has taken
many details。 The subject was one for an epic poem； for its unity might
have been found in the working out of the expiation due for the crime of
Athamas； but this motive is barely mentioned by our author。
As we have it； the motive of the voyage is the command of Pelias to
bring back the golden fleece； and this command is based on Pelias' desire
to destroy Jason； while the divine aid given to Jason results from the
intention of Hera to punish Pelias for his neglect of the honour due to her。
The learning of Apollonius is not deep but it is curio