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The

Marshall High School Mr. Cline Western Civilization I: Ancient Foundations Unit Three JA * A New Epic for a New Age

• As we began this unit with an epic that defined the archaic age of Greece, so we shall end it with an epic that defines its Hellenic Period.

• The Argonautica is one of my favorite epics.

• There was a great movie that was on the occasional Sunday night when they showed family films on ABC on those nights called “ and the ” and I was addicted to it! (If you see it today, you will find it cheesy and the special effects a bit corny, but to a 7 year old in 1978, it…was…AWESOME!)

• This epic has five things going for it.

• Two of these things it has in common with traditional Greek epics.

• First, it's full of gods, magic, adventure and fighting.

• Second, it offers us a window into the world that produced it.

• Yet three of my favorite things are completely unique to The Argonautica. * A New Epic for a New Age

• The Argonautica has incredibly human characters who respond to the world in a very relatable way.

• The Argonautica is also blessedly short; it's about a third of the size of The .

• But the thing that really sets The Argonautica apart from its predecessors is that The Argonautica is a love story.

• Have you ever noticed that in every movie - be it about aliens, , World War II or boxing - there's always a love interest involved?

• Well, that pattern really starts to take off in the West during the .

• And in the third century BC, there was no better place for a new literary form to arise than at the , the greatest collection of writing in the world.

• And at the top of that library was Apollonius of , the head librarian. * A New Epic for a New Age

• From this lofty perch atop the collected works of Western Civilization, Apollonius aspired to match the great and compose an epic for his age.

• 's for Jason

• Meet Pelias, king of .

• Pelias is in a bad position. As an illegitimate son of and the former queen, Pelias's reign is on shaky ground.

• To secure his throne, Pelias has killed, imprisoned or exiled most of his family.

• This has angered most of the gods, except, of course, Poseidon.

• decides Pelias must die! agrees, and the two goddesses set about plotting Pelias's doom.

• They will use Pelias's cousin, Jason, to destroy the evil king.

• But rather than just giving Jason a knife and distracting the king, the goddesses plan this whole contrived, roundabout way to kill Pelias. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Pelias's Quest for Jason

• Hera doesn't just want Pelias to die; she wants him to die horribly.

• The Argonauts Prepare for Their Journey

• Jason will go to , pick up a sorceress named and bring her home with him, and she will kill the king in an inventive and awful manner.

• This may seem crazy to you or I, but Apollonius is simply retelling part of a story that is very, very old - the tale of Jason and Medea.

• In that tale, Jason retrieves the from the faraway land of Colchis with the help of the foreign sorceress, Medea.

• The two marry and make babies.

• Upon their return, Medea's magical powers attract the attention of King Pelias.

• Medea tells the king that she can use her magic to restore his youth. * A New Epic for a New Age

• The Argonauts Prepare for Their Journey

• This is totally within her power, which she demonstrates by restoring an old goat to youth by submerging it in her magic cauldron.

• In a particularly sick twist, Medea convinces Pelias's beloved daughters that they must be the ones to perform the magical rite on their father.

• Yet she gives the girls the wrong potion, and Pelias ends up getting cooked alive by his own daughters.

• That is the fate that awaits poor King Pelias - cooked alive by his own children.

• You and I know this. The goddesses know this. In the Hellenistic age, every child knows this. But Pelias doesn't know it.

• So when a prophet tells Pelias that a man with one sandal will bring about his downfall, Pelias thinks 'Well, I'll just kill anyone who comes up to me with one sandal.' * A New Epic for a New Age

• The Argonauts Prepare for Their Journey

• But the gods throw Pelias a curveball. The prophesied one-sandaled man is none other than the King's cousin, Jason.

• Now, as I mentioned, Pelias has a nasty habit of killing off relatives, but fortunately for Jason, instead of the showing up with one sandal at a nice private dining room where he could be disposed of quietly, Jason shows up in public - at the Olympics no less!

• Pelias can hardly sentence his cousin to death for a missing sandal in the middle of the Olympics with the greatest heroes of the Greek world standing on as witnesses.

• The people wouldn't like it, and the gods are already furious with Pelias.

• In short, Pelias cannot kill Jason.

• Jason and the Argonauts

• So instead of killing Jason, Pelias sets Jason an impossible task. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Jason and the Argonauts

• So instead of killing Jason, Pelias sets Jason an impossible task.

• Jason must sail to the far-off land of Colchis to retrieve the mythical Golden Fleece. And thus the goddess' plan is set into motion.

• Hearing Pelias's challenge, over 50 heroes offer to help Jason in his quest, including , the bard whose song could charm even the hounds of Hell; and the mighty Herakles, who is well-practiced at fulfilling impossible tasks; and even , Herakles'... uh… let's call him his squire.

• With this mighty crew of heroes assembled, the goddess Athena helps them build a magical singing boat called the .

• So decked out, the heroes of the Argo - or Argonauts - set off to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece, with two bloodthirsty goddesses to guide them along their way.

• On their way there, the Argonauts get into adventures.

• They impregnate an entire island of women. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Jason and the Argonauts

• They impregnate an entire island of women.

• They lose Herakles when a kidnaps his boy toy... ahem... I mean squire, Hylas, and Herakles abandons them to find him.

• They rescue a prophet named from a gang of that keep stealing his dinner.

• Phineus repays them with instructions for their journey.

• Taking Phineus's advice, the Argonauts stop on the island of , where the birds of Ares shoot their arrow-like feathers at them.

• On that terrible island, the Argonauts discover a group of shipwrecked sailors from Colchis.

• Their leader is none other than prince , grandson of the King of Colchis, Aietes. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Jason and the Argonauts

• Their rescued friends guide the Argonauts to Colchis and get Jason an audience with the king.

• Book III: Jason and Medea Fall in Love

• Meanwhile, on , Hera and Athena are hatching plans of their own.

• The goddesses know there is no way Jason can possibly hope to succeed on his own.

• Jason isn't exactly what one would call material.

• He's not invincible like , nor clever like .

• Jason's heroic qualities are that he's good-looking and easy to get along with.

• This has served him well so far; after all, he's attracted a bunch of heroes to help him. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Book III: Jason and Medea Fall in Love

• But the only person powerful enough to handle what is to come is Herakles, and he's off looking for his boyfriend.

• Fortunately for the Argonauts, there is a sorceress in Colchis who can help them.

• Her name is Medea; she is King Aietes's daughter, Princess of Colchis, granddaughter of the sun.

• Her powers are vast and terrifying.

• Unfortunately, her loyalties lie elsewhere, and she is unlikely to help the Argonauts of her own will.

• The two goddesses hatch a plot to get Medea to help Jason with his quest.

• They visit , the goddess of love.

• Athena and Hera beg Aphrodite to have her son, (whom we call Cupid), make Medea fall in love with Jason. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Book III: Jason and Medea Fall in Love

• At this point you may be wondering - why didn't the goddesses just help Jason themselves?

• Well, then they couldn't bring back Medea to kill King Pelias.

• This, of course, raises the question 'why don't they just kill king Pelias themselves?'

• All I can say is that Greek gods have a sick sense of humor, and they really enjoy watching people unwittingly destroy themselves through their own actions - in this case, sending his cousin Jason on an impossible quest, where he'll pick up a woman who will eventually kill Pelias.

• Back in Colchis, Jason's meeting with King Aietes is not going well.

• Something about Jason just makes kings want to kill him in incredibly convoluted ways.

• Like Pelias, Aietes wants to kill Jason. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Book III: Jason and Medea Fall in Love

• But instead of just killing Jason, Aietes gives him an impossible task.

• Jason must harness a team of , fire-breathing super-bulls to a plough.

• He then must sow the field of Ares with 's teeth.

• These dragon's teeth will then sprout into full-grown warriors, whom Jason must kill singlehandedly.

• As Jason pales at this incredible demand, Medea has just spotted him across a crowded room.

• Struck by Cupid's arrow, she falls helplessly in love with him.

• As a dumbfounded Jason disconsolately returns to his ship, Medea hurries to her bed chamber, full of concern for the beautiful Jason.

• It is striking that Medea is not portrayed as the monstrous sorceress who will murder King Pelias. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Book III: Jason and Medea Fall in Love

• Instead, Medea comes across as a love-struck girl torn between the honor of her family and her powerful love for Jason.

• There's this beautiful scene where she weighs these two warring passions; in one hand she holds a potion that will protect Jason during his trial; in the other hand she holds a potion that will take her own life.

• Seeing all her intricate plans on the verge of ruin, Hera fills Medea with a fear of death and love of life, and the maiden finally resolves to help Jason.

• Using the prince Argus as an intermediary, Jason and Medea arrange a meeting.

• Medea meets with Jason in the Shrine of Hekate, the goddess of magic.

• At first sight, Jason realizes that Medea is in love with him and he pours on the charm, complimenting her, beseeching her aide.

• Medea is overcome with love for the beautiful Jason. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Book III: Jason and Medea Fall in Love

• She hands Jason a potion of invincibility and advises him on how to best defeat the warriors born of the dragon's teeth.

• Her only request is that Jason remembers her fondly when he returns to his home.

• Now it is Jason's turn to be overcome.

• He sees Medea's selflessness and beauty and falls in love with her himself.

• He asks her to return to Greece with him as his bride.

• The next day, Jason uses Medea's potion, sprinkling it on himself and on his weapons, and an indomitable power enters his limbs.

• He hurries to the field of Ares to meet Aietes's challenge.

• There, the huge bulls charge him, their brazen hooves tearing at the Earth, their nostrils breathing fire. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Book III: Jason and Medea Fall in Love

• Jason manhandles the fearsome bulls easily, forcing them to the ground and yoking them to the massive plow.

• Goading the terrible bulls with his spear, Jason plows the field, planting the dragon's teeth behind him.

• Releasing the bulls, Jason waits for the warriors to spring up from the Earth.

• He does not have long to wait; soon hundreds of warriors burst from the ground.

• Heeding Medea's advice, Jason throws a huge boulder into the midst of the warriors.

• The Earth-born warriors are not very smart, being newly born, and at this shock, they begin killing each other.

• Jason waits for their numbers to thin a bit, then throws himself into the fray. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Book III: Jason and Medea Fall in Love

• Soon, Jason is the only one standing on the field of Ares.

• He has succeeded in his impossible quest.

• He turns to King Aietes to claim his prize, only to find the king is not there.

• Book IV: Aietes, Medea & the Journey Home

• Aietes is back in his palace plotting with the Colchian nobility.

• He knows his daughter has betrayed him, and he plans on including her in his vengeance.

• Medea is certain her father is on to her.

• She flees the palace to find Jason and his friends celebrating their victory. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Book IV: Aietes, Medea & the Journey Home

• Medea warns them that Aietes has no intention of fulfilling his end of the bargain.

• She begs the Argonauts to flee and take her with them.

• In exchange, she will help them retrieve the Golden Fleece.

• Jason once again promises to marry her, and the two set off for the grove of Ares.

• There they find the fleece draped over an oak and guarded by a massive dragon.

• Medea casts a spell that puts the dragon to sleep, while Jason snatches the Golden Fleece from the oak.

• The two race back to the Argo, leaving the fearsome dragon slumbering behind them. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Book IV: Aietes, Medea & the Journey Home

• As the Argonauts cast off, Aietes appears on the crest of a bank at the head of a mighty host.

• The Argonauts beat out to sea, and the Colchians take to their boats in pursuit.

• Their flight is cut short by Medea's brother, Apsyrtus.

• They only escape him through treachery and murder.

• Medea convinces her brother that all is well, while Jason stabs him in the back.

• Leaving the Colchians behind, the Argonauts take a very circuitous route.

• They even leave the Mediterranean briefly to cut across the rivers of Europe.

• Many aspects of this return journey echo the trials of Odysseus in The .

• The Argonauts visit the island of , who held Odysseus captive. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Book IV: Aietes, Medea & the Journey Home

• They pass by the Sirens, whose song draws sailors to a watery grave.

• They avoid this dark fate by having Orpheus out-sing the sirens.

• They next pass through and , who cost Odysseus so many men.

• They even make friends with the Phaeacians, the people who carried Odysseus home.

• At Phaeacia, they are once again confronted by a gang of vengeful Colchians demanding the return of Medea.

• However, the King of Phaeacia intervenes.

• He refuses to separate a man from his wife so long as the marriage has been consummated. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Book IV: Aietes, Medea & the Journey Home

• Jason and Medea quickly find a cave and get to consummating, using the Golden Fleece as their marriage bed, while Orpheus plays them some Barry White.

• However, the Argonauts aren't just following in Odysseus's footsteps in their homeward journey, they also end up having some original adventures of their very own.

• They get trapped on the coast of Libya and nearly end up dying of thirst until a set of local point them in the right direction.

• The nymphs give the Argonauts a riddle: 'you must repay your mother her labor in carrying you in her belly.'

• The Argonauts realize that the 'mother' the nymphs are referring to is none other than their ship, the Argo.

• They end up carrying the Argo across the desert to a remote lake, but their fate is no better. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Book IV: Aietes, Medea & the Journey Home

• They wander the lake futilely until finally they are rescued by the god , Poseidon's son, who carries them back to the Mediterranean.

• Following Triton's directions, they pass .

• There they face , the man of bronze, whose only delight is throwing boulders at ships that come too near his island.

• Medea uses her magic to dispatch Talos with a powerful curse.

• The last thing the Argonauts do is accidentally create the island of Thera, modern day , by throwing a clod of dirt off the prow of the Argo.

• And just like that, they're home.

• Suddenly The Argonautica is over.

• I guess Apollonius just got tired of writing. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Book IV: Aietes, Medea & the Journey Home

• This ending is admittedly unsatisfying.

• But remember, this isn't the end of the story of Jason and Medea; it's only the beginning.

• Epilogue

• We know from other sources of the legend, Jason is going to introduce Medea to King Pelias.

• We know that Medea is going ensure that Pelias dies horribly at the hands of his own daughters.

• The goddesses get their vengeance, and Pelias gets his just desserts.

• But what happens to our star-crossed lovers? Does Jason become king? Do they live happily ever after? No!

• It turns out that killing a king is not a great way to endear yourself to that king's people. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Epilogue

• Jason and Medea flee Iolcus with their children in hand and an angry mob at their heels.

• They finally find sanctuary in the city of Corinth.

• Upon their arrival, Jason, realizing that he's married to a murderous madwoman, starts looking for another wife.

• He finds a potential bride in the Princess of Corinth.

• When Medea finds out that Jason is shopping around, she does not take it well.

• Jason took her from everyone and everything she loved, only to leave her alone among hostile strangers.

• Medea decides to return the favor.

• She kills the Princess, making Jason unwelcome in Corinth. * A New Epic for a New Age

• Epilogue

• But to drive the point home, she also kills her own children just to deny Jason any comfort in life - not exactly what one would call a tale ending.

• Perhaps this is why Apollonius ends his tale so abruptly - before they ever get back to Iolcus.

• Maybe he wanted to give his readers a happy ending.

• On the other hand, Apollonius just spent an entire book portraying the monstrous Medea as a lovesick girl and the unfaithful Jason as a well-meaning, but inept, hero.

• Maybe he just wanted to leave his heroic couple heroic, at the height of their glory.

• So Apollonius brings his account of Jason and Medea to a close in the last moment of their happiness, with their goal in sight, when all seemed won and when 'happily ever after' seemed like a real possibility.