Apollonius of Rhodes is best known as the author of the epic poem Argonautica, recounting the quest for the Golden Fleece. His work stands as one of the few surviving examples of the epic genre, marked by innovation and influence. It served as a cultural repository for Ptolemaic Egypt and provided a model for later Latin epic poets. While his other poems survive only in fragments, they touched upon the foundational myths of cities, reflecting his service as a scholar and librarian in Alexandria. Once viewed as a mere imitator of Homer, his reputation has been reevaluated, highlighting his unique scholarly approach as a Hellenistic poet engaging with a rich literary tradition.
It is a task that no man has ever completed: to bring back a magical ram's fleece that lies hidden in a far-off land, guarded by an all-seeing serpent. But, one man, Jason, must try. His life depends on it. Upon the orders of the King, Jason must cross deadly seas with the crew of his ship.
Here begins the fantastic tale of Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece. Written in the third century BC, the story of Jason and the Argonauts has thrilled adventure lovers for ages. A noble band of heroes sets out from Greece aboard the ship Argo in search of the fabled Golden Fleece of a magical ram. Under the watchful gaze of the gods, they encounter obstacles both horrible and seductive that test their very limits. This selection is taken from E.V. Rieu's stirring translation of the Argonautica, published in full as The Voyage of Argo.
The Argonautica is the only surviving epic between Homer and Virgil; Book IV is an extraordinary product of Greek poetry.
Die Argonauten des Apollonius ist ein unveränderter, hochwertiger Nachdruck der Originalausgabe aus dem Jahr 1779. Hansebooks ist Herausgeber von Literatur zu unterschiedlichen Themengebieten wie Forschung und Wissenschaft, Reisen und Expeditionen, Kochen und Ernährung, Medizin und weiteren Genres. Der Schwerpunkt des Verlages liegt auf dem Erhalt historischer Literatur. Viele Werke historischer Schriftsteller und Wissenschaftler sind heute nur noch als Antiquitäten erhältlich. Hansebooks verlegt diese Bücher neu und trägt damit zum Erhalt selten gewordener Literatur und historischem Wissen auch für die Zukunft bei.