The Path Of The Argo

An innovative critical study emphasizing thematic and narrative complexities arising from the poet's use of language.

In the Argonautica, Valerius Flaccus not only recounts a voyage, that of the Argonauts in their quest for the golden fleece, but takes a journey himself, a poetic one, during which he explores new, unconventional paths in the epic genre. The present volume examines this aspect of Valerius’ poetic program, locating its primary source of inspiration in the works of Ovid, especially his epic, the Metamorphoses, and his exile poetry. It argues that the Metamorphoses influences not only discrete – often digressive – episodes in the Argonautica, but Valerius’ view of his poem as a “secondary” form of epic, which broadly deviates from the generic norms of his day. Echoes of the Tristia and Epistulae ex Ponto complement this approach by identifying many of Valerius’ characters, who are similarly displaced to the edges of the civilized world, with the exiled Ovid and even Valerius himself, who, at the end of the epic, finds his own “ship”, the epic itself, stranded roughly where Ovid lived out his days in exile. From this study, readers will gain a greater appreciation for the importance of Ovid to Valerius’ conception and execution of his epic program and one of its central themes, the journey.

In an epic poem narrated by a self-declared opponent of epic poetry, the hero and his 50 Argonauts are thrust aside by the first heroine of third-person narrative and a forerunner of the powerful women in fiction.

Sent by his uncle on a mission from which he's not expected to return. Impossible obstacles and dangers stacked against him. Inexperienced captain of a crew of heroes and demi-gods with mysterious powers. It's going to be epic.

Hidden in and around the Detroit and Ann Arbor area are some great roads, trails, and bike paths that are fun to explore. Best Bike Rides Detroit and Ann Arbor describes 40 great recreational rides in the metro areas. With most rides between 5 and 35 miles—including road rides, rail trails, bike paths, and mountain bike rides—it’s easy to find a ride that suits your tastes. Each route includes complete directions, a map, a text description of the area you’ll be riding, the GPS coordinates of the start/finish point, and color photos of one the ride’s features. Also included is information on local restaurants, lodging, maps, bicycle shops, other facilities for cyclists, and community resources. Look inside to find: • Detailed maps and directions • Rides that explore the urban areas as well as the surrounding country • A variety of rides, most between 5 and 35 miles in length • In-depth information about each ride, including length, terrain, traffic conditions, and road hazards • Interesting facts about each area • Options to create longer or shorter rides

The story of Jason and the Argonauts is one of the most famous in Greek myth, and its development from the oldest layers of Greek mythology down to the modern age encapsulates the dramatic changes in faith, power and culture that Western civilization has seen over the past three millennia. From the Bronze Age to the Classical Age, from the medieval world to today, the Jason story has been told and retold with new stories, details and meanings. This book explores the epic history of a colorful myth and probes the most ancient origins of the quest for the Golden Fleece--a quest that takes us to the very dawn of Greek religion and its close relationship with Near Eastern peoples and cultures.

Die nach dem Untergang Neros, dem Vierkaiserjahr und dem Aufstieg Vespasians entstandenen Argonautica des Valerius Flaccus weisen bedeutsame Unterschiede zu früheren Fassungen des Argonautenmythos auf. Die vorliegende Monographie untersucht, welche Bedeutungshorizonte die Vermischung von Eroberungsfahrt und Bürgerkrieg, die Zeichnung von Herrschern und Tyrannen und die beunruhigende Darstellung der Götter in diesem Epos im ursprünglichen Rezeptionskontext entfalten konnten. Die vorgeschlagenen Interpretationen erweisen die Argonautica als Gedicht, das eine positive Bewertung der Herrschaft Vespasians nahelegt, aber in ambivalenter Weise offenlässt, ob das flavische Rom eher einer unbegrenzten Friedenszeit oder einem weiteren Bürgerkrieg entgegensteuert. Written in the aftermath of Nero’s downfall, the Year of the Four Emperors and the rise of Vespasian, Valerius Flaccus’ Argonautica departs significantly from earlier treatments of the Argonautic myth. This monograph explores how the epic’s fusion of foreign conquest with civil war, its depiction of rulers and tyrants, and its disconcerting portrayal of the gods may have resonated with its contemporary audience. The proposed readings suggest that the poem reflects approval of Vespasian’s rule, yet ambiguously leaves open the question of whether the future of Flavian Rome will hold everlasting peace or another civil war.