Excerpt

Excerpt from The Argonautica, by Rhodius Apollonius

She spake chiding, and Mopsus smiled to hear the god-sent voice of the
bird, and thus addressed them: “Do thou, son of Aeson, pass on to the
temple, where thou wilt find the maiden; and very kind will her
greeting be to thee through the prompting of Cypris, who will be thy
helpmate in the contest, even as Phineus, Agenor’s son, foretold. But
we two, Argus and I, will await thy return, apart in this very spot; do
thou all alone be a suppliant and win her over with prudent words.”

He spake wisely, and both at once gave approval. Nor was Medea’s heart
turned to other thoughts, for all her singing, and never a song that
she essayed pleased her long in her sport. But in confusion she ever
faltered, nor did she keep her eyes resting quietly upon the throng of
her handmaids; but to the paths far off she strained her gaze, turning
her face aside. Oft did her heart sink fainting within her bosom
whenever she fancied she heard passing by the sound of a footfall or of
the wind. But soon he appeared to her longing eyes, striding along
loftily, like Sirius coming from ocean, which rises fair and clear to
see, but brings unspeakable mischief to flocks; thus then did Aeson’s
son come to her, fair to see, but the sight of him brought love-sick
care. Her heart fell from out her bosom, and a dark mist came over her
eyes, and a hot blush covered her cheeks. And she had no strength to
lift her knees backwards or forwards, but her feet beneath were rooted
to the ground; and meantime all her handmaidens had drawn aside. So
they two stood face to face without a word, without a sound, like oaks
or lofty pines, which stand quietly side by side on the mountains when
the wind is still; then again, when stirred by the breath of the wind,
they murmur ceaselessly; so they two were destined to tell out all
their tale, stirred by the breath of Love. And Aeson’s son saw that she
had fallen into some heaven-sent calamity, and with soothing words thus
addressed her:

“Why, pray, maiden, dost thou fear me so much, all alone as I am? Never
was I one of these idle boasters such as other men are—not even
aforetime, when I dwelt in my own country. Wherefore, maiden, be not
too much abashed before me, either to enquire whatever thou wilt or to
speak thy mind. But since we have met one another with friendly hearts,
in a hallowed spot, where it is wrong to sin, speak openly and ask
questions, and beguile me not with pleasing words, for at the first
thou didst promise thy sister to give me the charms my heart desires. I
implore thee by Hecate herself, by thy parents, and by Zeus who holds
his guardian hand over strangers and suppliants; I come here to thee
both a suppliant and a stranger, bending the knee in my sore need. For
without thee and thy sister never shall I prevail in the grievous
contest. And to thee will I render thanks hereafter for thy aid, as is
right and fitting for men who dwell far oft, making glorious thy name
and fame; and the rest of the heroes, returning to Hellas, will spread
thy renown and so will the heroes’ wives and mothers, who now perhaps
are sitting on the shore and making moan for us; their painful
affliction thou mightest scatter to the winds. In days past the maiden
Ariadne, daughter of Minos, with kindly intent rescued Theseus from
grim contests—the maiden whom Pasiphae daughter of Helios bare. But
she, when Minos had lulled his wrath to rest, went aboard the ship with
him and left her fatherland; and her even the immortal gods loved, and,
as a sign in mid-sky, a crown of stars, which men call Ariadne’s crown,
rolls along all night among the heavenly constellations. So to thee too
shall be thanks from the gods, if thou wilt save so mighty an array of
chieftains. For surely from thy lovely form thou art like to excel in
gentle courtest.”

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Explanation

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Argonautica by Apollonius Rhodius

Context of the Passage

The Argonautica (3rd century BCE) is an epic poem by the Hellenistic poet Apollonius Rhodius, recounting the myth of Jason and the Argonauts as they sail on the Argo to retrieve the Golden Fleece from Colchis. This excerpt occurs in Book 3, a pivotal moment where Jason, the leader of the Argonauts, meets Medea, the sorceress princess of Colchis and daughter of King Aeëtes.

Prior to this scene:

• Jason has arrived in Colchis, where Aeëtes has set impossible tasks (plowing a field with fire-breathing bulls, sowing dragon’s teeth) as conditions for obtaining the Fleece.
• Medea, struck by Eros’ arrow (sent by Hera and Athena to aid Jason), is already smitten with him.
• The prophet Mopsus interprets a bird’s omen, advising Jason to approach Medea alone, as she will help him due to divine intervention (Cypris/Aphrodite’s influence).

This passage captures their first fateful encounter, where Medea’s internal conflict and Jason’s persuasive speech set the stage for her eventual betrayal of her family to aid him.

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Themes in the Excerpt

1. Love as a Divine and Destructive Force

   • Medea’s love for Jason is not natural but divinely orchestrated (Cypris/Aphrodite and Eros manipulate her).
   • The simile of Sirius (the dog star, associated with scorching heat and madness) foreshadows the destructive nature of their love—beautiful but ruinous.
   • Her physical symptoms (blushing, rooted feet, dark mist over her eyes) reflect love as a kind of sickness, a common trope in Greek literature (cf. Sappho’s poetry).

2. Fate vs. Free Will

   • The bird’s prophecy (interpreted by Mopsus) suggests divine favor, but Jason must still persuade Medea.
   • Medea’s internal struggle (her faltering songs, distracted gaze) shows her resisting yet succumbing to fate.
   • The silence between them (like still trees before the wind) implies an inevitable, preordained connection—once Love (Eros) "stirs" them, they will speak.

3. Persuasion and Rhetoric

   • Jason’s speech is a masterclass in manipulation:
     • He flatters her ("thy lovely form," "excel in gentle courtesy").
     • He appeals to pity (describing himself as a helpless suppliant).
     • He invokes divine witnesses (Hecate, Zeus, her parents) to bind her morally.
     • He offers fame (her name will be glorified in Greece).
     • He uses a mythological precedent (Ariadne helping Theseus) to normalize her betrayal.

4. Betrayal and Exile

   • The reference to Ariadne (who abandoned her family for Theseus, only to be abandoned herself) foreshadows Medea’s future suffering.
   • Jason’s promise of glory in Greece contrasts with the personal cost Medea will pay (exile, murder of her brother, eventual infanticide in Euripides’ Medea).

5. Nature and Divine Imagery

   • The similes (Sirius, trees in the wind) naturalize their emotions, suggesting love is as uncontrollable as the elements.
   • The temple setting (a "hallowed spot") adds sacred weight to their meeting, implying their bond is sanctioned by the gods—yet also doomed, as sacred spaces often foreshadow tragedy in Greek myth.

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Literary Devices & Stylistic Features

1. Similes & Metaphors

   • "Like Sirius coming from ocean":
     • Sirius was associated with madness, drought, and misfortune—foreshadowing the destructive consequences of Jason and Medea’s union.
     • The star is beautiful but deadly, much like Medea’s love.
   • "Like oaks or lofty pines... when the wind is still":
     • Their silence before speaking mirrors the calm before a storm.
     • The wind as Eros suggests their words will be driven by divine passion, not reason.

2. Physical Symptoms of Love (Ekphrasis of Medea’s State)

   • "Her heart fell from out her bosom" → Love as a violent, physical force.
   • "A dark mist came over her eyes" → Blindness to reason (a motif in Greek love poetry, e.g., Sappho’s "I can neither see nor hear").
   • "Her feet beneath were rooted to the ground" → Paralysis, inability to resist fate.

3. Dramatic Irony

   • The reader knows Medea is doomed (from later myths), but Jason speaks as if their union will be glorious and mutually beneficial.
   • His reference to Ariadne is ironic—she was abandoned by Theseus, just as Medea will be by Jason.

4. Rhetorical Strategies in Jason’s Speech

   • Ethos (Appeal to Character): He presents himself as humble, non-boastful, unlike other men.
   • Pathos (Appeal to Emotion): He plays the helpless suppliant, invoking her pity.
   • Logos (Appeal to Logic): He argues that helping him is her moral duty (Zeus protects suppliants).
   • Mythological Allusion (Ariadne): He normalizes her potential betrayal by comparing it to a famous precedent.

5. Foreshadowing

   • The Sirius simile hints at future suffering.
   • The Ariadne reference foreshadows Medea’s abandonment and exile.
   • The stillness before speech suggests their words will unseal their fates.

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Significance of the Passage

1. Medea’s Transformation

   • This is the moment she crosses the threshold from loyalty to her father to alliance with Jason.
   • Her internal conflict (distracted singing, faltering gaze) shows her struggle against divine manipulation.

2. Jason’s Character

   • Unlike the heroic but flawed Jason of later traditions (e.g., Euripides’ Medea), here he is charming, persuasive, but morally ambiguous.
   • His rhetorical skill contrasts with his later betrayal, making this scene tragically ironic.

3. The Role of the Gods

   • Aphrodite (Cypris) and Eros are the true architects of this meeting, reducing human agency.
   • The bird’s prophecy (via Mopsus) reinforces the inevitability of their union, yet Jason must still act to secure Medea’s help.

4. Hellenistic Epic vs. Homeric Epic

   • Unlike Homer’s glorification of heroes, Apollonius’ epic is psychologically complex, focusing on internal conflict and moral ambiguity.
   • Medea is not a passive prize (like Helen in the Iliad) but an active, conflicted figure.

5. Literary Influence

   • This scene inspired later depictions of Medea, particularly in Euripides’ Medea and Ovid’s Heroides.
   • The love-at-first-sight trope and persuasive speech became staples of Roman love elegies (e.g., Catullus, Propertius).

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Line-by-Line Breakdown of Key Moments

1. "Do thou, son of Aeson, pass on to the temple..."

   • Mopsus’ advice sets the divine plan in motion—Jason must act alone, emphasizing fate’s role.

2. "Nor was Medea’s heart turned to other thoughts..."

   • Her distraction shows love’s power over her.

3. "Like Sirius coming from ocean..."

   • The simile’s duality: Jason is beautiful but dangerous, much like the star that brings scorching heat (passion) and ruin (tragedy).

4. "So they two stood face to face without a word..."

   • The silence is pregnant with fate—their words will change everything.

5. "Why, pray, maiden, dost thou fear me so much?"

   • Jason feigns innocence, though he knows divine forces are at work.

6. "I implore thee by Hecate herself..."

   • Hecate (goddess of magic and crossroads) is Medea’s patron, making this oath deeply personal.

7. "But she, when Minos had lulled his wrath to rest..."

   • The Ariadne myth serves as a blueprint and warning—Medea, like Ariadne, will be exiled for love.

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Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters

This excerpt is the turning point of The Argonautica—where divine will, human desire, and rhetorical persuasion intersect to seal Medea’s fate. Unlike Homeric epics, where gods and heroes act in clear moral terms, Apollonius presents a more ambiguous world:

• Love is both beautiful and destructive.
• Fate is inescapable, yet humans must still choose.
• Persuasion can be as powerful as prophecy.

Medea’s internal struggle and Jason’s manipulative charm set the stage for one of mythology’s most tragic love stories, influencing countless later works. The passage blends epic grandeur with psychological depth, making it a masterpiece of Hellenistic literature.