Chapter 12: Iason and the Argo
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♠ Pherekydes 3F111 FGrH – Die Fragmente der griechischen Historiker 1, pp. 89-90, ed. F. Jacoby, 2d ed. Leiden 1957.
♠ Antimachos 58 W – Iambi et Elegi Graeci 2, p. 38, ed. M. L. West. Oxford 1972.
♠ Ais fr 97a R – Aischylos, Kabeiroi – Tragicorum Graecorum Fragmenta 3, p. 216, ed. S. L. Radt. Göttingen 1985.
Sophokles in his drama Lemniai (fr 385) and Aischylos in his Kabeiroi list all the people that entered the ship Argo. (Transl. E Bianchelli)
♠ Soph fr. 385 R – Sophokles, Lemniai – Tragicorum Graecorum Fragmenta 4, p. 337, ed. S.L. Radt. Göttingen 1977.
For translation, see above.
♠ Soph fr. 386 R – Sophokles, Lemniai – Tragicorum Graecorum Fragmenta 4, p. 337, ed. S.L. Radt. Göttingen 1977.
♦ Delphi, Museum, metope from the Sikyonian Monopteros: Polydeukes (named) on frontal horse on left; on Argo (the boat), lost figure, Orpheus with lyre (named) and an unidentified lyre player; on right, fragmentary horseman (most likely Kastor)
Preserved metope, from Museum of Delphi
“Restoration proposal of the Argo ship occupying three metopes along one short side of the monopteros”, from Museum of Delphi
Digital LIMC and links to entries in printed LIMC
♠♦ Paus 1.18.1 – Pausanias, Description of Greece
The sanctuary of the Dioscuri [the Anakeion] is ancient. They themselves are represented as standing, while their sons are seated on horses. Here Polygnotus has painted the marriage of the daughters of Leucippus, which is a part of the gods’ history, but Micon those who sailed with Jason to the Colchians, and he has concentrated his attention upon Acastus and his horses. Greek Text
♦ Paris, Louvre G341: Attic red-figure calyx krater by Niobid Painter with Herakles, Athena and Argonautai?; on far right, Akastos and horse? (this may be a copy of Mikon’s painting in Anakeion of Argonautai)
Drawing of whole side of krater with Herakles, Athena and Argonautai?, from A. Furtwaengler and K. Reichhold, Griechische Vasenmalerei: Auswahl hervorragender Vasenbilder (Serie 2, 1909) pl. 108
Detail of Akastos with a horse?, from Wikimedia
Beazley Archive Pottery Database
Digital LIMC and links to entries in printed LIMC
♠ Theok 13.75 – Theokritos, Idylls
[73] Thus came fairest Hylas to be numbered of the Blest, and the heroes to gird at Heracles for a deserter because he wandered and left the good ship of the thirty thwarts. Greek Text
♠ AR 1.23-227 – Apollonios of Rhodes, Argonautika
First then let us name Orpheus whom once Calliope bare, it is said, wedded to Thracian Oeagrus, near the Pimpleian height. Men say that he by the music of his songs charmed the stubborn rocks upon the mountains and the course of rivers. And the wild oak-trees to this day, tokens of that magic strain, that grow at Zone on the Thracian shore, stand in ordered ranks close together, the same which under the charm of his lyre he led down from Pieria. Such then was Orpheus whom Aeson’s son welcomed to share his toils, in obedience to the behest of Cheiron, Orpheus ruler of Bistonian Pieria.
[35] Straightway came Asterion, whom Cometes begat by the waters of eddying Apidanus; he dwelt at Peiresiae near the Phylleian mount, where mighty Apidanus and bright Enipeus join their streams, coming together from afar.
[40] Next to them from Larisa came Polyphemus, son of Eilatus, who aforetime among the mighty Lapithae, when they were arming themselves against the Centaurs, fought in his younger days; now his limbs were grown heavy with age, but his martial spirit still remained, even as of old.
[45] Nor was Iphiclus long left behind in Phylace, the uncle of Aeson’s son; for Aeson had wedded his sister Alcimede, daughter of Phylacus: his kinship with her bade him be numbered in the host.
[49] Nor did Admetus, the lord of Pherae rich in sheep, stay behind beneath the peak of the Chalcodonian mount. Continue Reading Greek Text
♠ ApB 1.9.16 – Apollodoros, Bibliotheke (Library)
Sent to fetch the fleece, Jason called in the help of Argus, son of Phrixus; and Argus, by Athena’s advice, built a ship of fifty oars named Argo after its builder; and at the prow Athena fitted in a speaking timber from the oak of Dodona. When the ship was built, and he inquired of the oracle, the god gave him leave to assemble the nobles of Greece and sail away. And those who assembled were as follows: Tiphys, son of Hagnias, who steered the ship; Orpheus, son of Oeagrus; Zetes and Calais, sons of Boreas; Castor and Pollux, sons of Zeus; Telamon and Peleus, sons of Aeacus; Hercules, son of Zeus; Theseus, son of Aegeus; Idas and Lynceus, sons of Aphareus; Amphiaraus, son of Oicles; Caeneus, son of Coronus; Palaemon, son of Hephaestus or of Aetolus; Cepheus, son of Aleus; Laertes son of Arcisius; Autolycus, son of Hermes; Atalanta, daughter of Schoeneus; Menoetius, son of Actor; Actor, son of Hippasus; Admetus, son of Pheres; Acastus, son of Pelias; Eurytus, son of Hermes; Meleager, son of Oeneus; Ancaeus, son of Lycurgus; Euphemus, son of Poseidon; Poeas, son of Thaumacus; Butes, son of Teleon; Phanus and Staphylus, sons of Dionysus; Erginus, son of Poseidon; Periclymenus, son of Neleus; Augeas, son of the Sun; Iphiclus, son of Thestius; Argus, son of Phrixus; Euryalus, son of Mecisteus; Peneleos, son of Hippalmus; Leitus, son of Alector; Iphitus, son of Naubolus; Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Ares; Asterius, son of Cometes; Polyphemus, son of Elatus. Greek Text
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Tags:
#Polydeukes, #Argo, #Orpheus, #Kastor, #Akastos
Literary sources edited by Elena Bianchelli, Retired Senior Lecturer of Classical Languages and Culture, Univ. of Georgia, March 2022.
Artistic sources edited by Frances Van Keuren, Prof. Emerita, Lamar Dodd School of Art, Univ. of Georgia, November 2025.
