Argonautica

The Roman retelling of the quest for the Golden Fleece.

The Flavian epic poet Valerius Flaccus is the author of the most extensive surviving narrative of the Argonautic myth in Latin. His poem tells the story of how the Argonauts under Jason's leadership travel over the open sea in the Argo, the first ship, to obtain the Golden Fleece. After arriving in Colchis, Jason is supported in this task by the local princess Medea, who has fallen in love with him through divine intervention. After successfully winning the Golden Fleece, Jason and Medea depart from Colchis, at which point, in the middle of its eighth book, the poem breaks off. Within Valerius' epic program, the narrated action is presented as part of Jupiter's plan for ruling the world, which includes the transfer of power from one nation to another.

This Latin version of the Argonautica, written under the Flavian emperors in the late first century AD, resonates with contemporary issues of hegemony, expansion, and domestic conflicts even as it provides a gripping narrative.

The Hellenistic epic Argonautica by the Greek poet Apollonius Rhodius provides the starting point for the key elements of the story. In addition to Apollonius Rhodius, Valerius engages with the entire literary tradition before him, particularly the works of Homer and Virgil. Among other details, his refashioning of standard epic motifs and episodes demonstrates his literary sophistication.

This edition provides a revised Latin text and a new English translation, as well as ample explanatory and illustrative material.