Argonautica

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Argonautica
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Argonautica

• Important Characters
• Cretheus, king of Iolcus
• Pelias (stepson)
• Æson (son)
• Philyra
• Jason
• Cheiron
• Argo
• The 50 heroes
• Heracles

• Orpheus
• Æetes, king of Colchis
• Medea
• Creon, king of Corinth
• Glauce, his daughter
• Ancient Accounts
• Apollonius
• Euripides
• Ps. Apollodorus

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Argonautica Selection

• I. Lemnos (Hypsipyle and the Lemnian women).
• II. Kios (Heracles abandoned)
• III. Symplegades
• IV. Colchis
• A. Æetes (brother of Circe) appoints 2 tasks
• 1. Plow his fields with Hephæstus fire-breathing
  bulls
• 2. Sow some of the teeth of Cadmus dragon and
  defeat the men that arose
• B. Hera gets Aphrodite to make Medea fall in love
  with Jason She helps him perform the tasks

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Argonautica Selection

• 1. Gives him fire-proof ointment
• 2. Tells him to throw a rock at one of the men
• C. Æetes plans to attack the Argonauts at night
• D. Medea warns them, helps them snatch the fleece
  by charming the dragon.
• E. Æetes sends his son Apsyrtos to stop them
• F. Medea kills him and scatters his limbs behind
  her as she and the Argonauts escape
• V. They return to Iolcus
• A. Medea gets revenge on Pelias for Jason
• B. Pelias son, Acastus, expels Jason and Medea

5
Argonautica Selection

• 1. Gives him fire-proof ointment
• 2. Tells him to throw a rock at one of the men
• C. Æetes plans to attack the Argonauts at night
• D. Medea warns them, helps them snatch the fleece
  by charming the dragon.
• E. Æetes sends his son Apsyrtos to stop them
• F. Medea kills him and scatters his limbs behind
  her as she and the Argonauts escape
• V. They return to Iolcus (see next lecture)

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Argonautica Selection

• V. Jason and Medea return to Iolcus
• A. Medea gets revenge on Pelias for Jason
• B. Pelias son, Acastus, expels Jason and Medea
• C. They flee to Corinth, where they take up
  residence and have two children
• D. After several years, Jason dumps Medea and
  marries the kings daughter, Glauce
• E. Medea sends Glauce a poisoned robe and tiara,
  which also kills Creon, kills her children, and
  flees.
• VI. Jason eventually dedicates Argo to Poseidon
  at the Isthmus. It later falls on him and kills
  him.