Jason and the Golden Fleece: The Argonautica

Written in Greek in the 3rd century BC, “Jason and the Golden Fleece” or “The Argonautica” is the epic of Apollonius of Rhodes. It is the only surviving Hellenistic epic and recounts the timeless tale of Jason and the Argonauts and their quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece. Based upon sources such as Homer and Pindar and written during the age of the famous Library of Alexandria, Apollonius was the first to include in his retelling of the already famous tale information about the geography, ethnography, and comparative religions of the places and people Jason encountered on his voyage. Apollonius revolutionized this ancient dramatic form and developed narrative techniques such as the interior monologue so that the audience could truly understand and identify with the character’s thoughts and feelings. “The Argonautica” explored in detail the love between Jason and the foreign princess and sorceress Medea in a much more expansive and emotional way than had Homer. Apollonius is often credited with beginning the tradition of the romantic novel. “The Argonautica” influenced such ancient writers as Catullus, Ovid, and Virgil and remains widely studied and adapted for modern audiences. This edition follows the prose translation of R. C. Seaton.