Chapter 12: Iason and the Argo
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♠ ApB 3.15.2 – Apollodoros, Bibliotheke (Library)
While Orithyia was playing by the Ilissus river, Boreas carried her off and had intercourse with her; and she bore daughters, Cleopatra and Chione, and winged sons, Zetes and Calais. These sons sailed with Jason and met their end in chasing the Harpies; but according to Acusilaus, they were killed by Hercules in Tenos. Greek Text
♠ Naupaktia fr 3 PEG – Poetae Epici Graeci 1, p. 124, ed. A. Bernabé. Leipzig 1987.
♠ Pherekydes 3F29 FGrH – Die Fragmente der griechischen Historiker 1, p. 69, ed. F. Jacoby, 2d ed. Leiden 1957.
♠ Σ AR 2.299 – Scholia to Apollonios of Rhodes, Argonautika – Scholia in Apollonium Rhodium vetera, p. 150, ed. C. Wendel. Berlin 1935.
♠ Akousilaos 2F31 – Die Fragmente der griechischen Historiker 1, p. 55, ed. F. Jacoby, 2d ed. Leiden 1957.
♠ AR 1.1289-1309 – Apollonios of Rhodes, Argonautika
And wrath seized Telamon, and thus he spake: “Sit there at thy ease, for it was fitting for thee to leave Heracles behind; from thee the project arose, so that his glory throughout Hellas should not overshadow thee, if so be that heaven grants us a return home. But what pleasure is there in words? For I will go, I only, with none of thy comrades, who have helped thee to plan this treachery.”
[1296] He spake, and rushed upon Tiphys son of Hagnias; and his eyes sparkled like flashes of ravening flame. And they would quickly have turned back to the land of the Mysians, forcing their way through the deep sea and the unceasing blasts of the wind, had not the two sons of Thracian Boreas held back the son of Aeacus with harsh words. Hapless ones, assuredly a bitter vengeance came upon them thereafter at the hands of Heracles, because they stayed the search for him. For when they were returning from the games over Pelias dead he slew them in sea-girt Tenos and heaped the earth round them, and placed two columns above, one of which, a great marvel for men to see, moves at the breath of the blustering north wind. These things were thus to be accomplished in after times. Greek Text
♦ Berlin, Antikensammlung F1682: Attic black-figure spouted krater by the Nettos Painter; panel with Harpuiai (named) fleeing; panel presumably with Boreadai lost
Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum Berlin, Antiquarium vol. 1 (Deutschland vol. 2, 1938), pls. 46.1 and 47.2
Beazley Archive Pottery Database
Digital LIMC and links to entries in printed LIMC (with photos)
♦ Rome, Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia 106335: Laconian cup by Boreads Pinter; Boreadai (with winged boots) pursue Harpuiai; overlapping Boreadai seize Harpuiai by necks with their left hands and hold swords in their right hands; Harpuiai carry Philneus’ food in a jar and a bowl
Digital LIMC and links to entries in printed LIMC (with black-and-white photo)
♦ Delphi Museum: ivory relief from the Halos (threshing floor) Deposit; on left, empty table with hand of Phineus on it (the rest of him is lost); behind table, a female figure (probably wife of Phineus) facing right, but turning her head to left to inform blind Phineus of presence of Boreadai; Boreadai, wearing winged boots, race to right in pursuit of Harpuiai; left one holds sword while right one grasps hair of first fleeing, winged Harpuia, who holds food she has stolen from Phineus’ table; only head of second Harpuia survives
R. Kolonia, The Archaeological Museum of Delphi (Latsis Foundation 2006), pp. 198-9
Digital LIMC and links to entries in printed LIMC
♦ Chest of Kypselos from temple of Hera at Olympia (known through Pausanias’ description and modern reconstructions)
♠ Paus 5.17.11 – Pausanias, Description of Greece
There is also Phineus the Thracian, and the sons of Boreas are chasing the harpies away from him. Greek Text
Fleeing Harpuiai and pursuing Boreadai, with Phineus, from reconstruction of chest of Kypselos (lost monument once in temple of Hera, Olympia) by W. von Massow, “Die Kypseloslade,” Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Athenische Abteilung vol. 41 (1916), pl. 1.
♦ Throne of Apollo at Amyklai (known through Pausanias’ description and modern reconstructions of whole throne)
♠ Paus 3.18.15 – Pausanias, Description of Greece
Calais and Zetes are driving the Harpies away from Phineus. Greek Text
Plan and reconstruction of whole throne from R. Martin, “Bathyclès de Magnésie et le « trône » d’Apollon à Amyklae,” in Architecture et urbanisme (1987) p. 385 fig. 7
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#Harpuiai, #Boreadai, #Phineus
Artistic sources edited by R. Ross Holloway, Elisha Benjamin Andrews Professor Emeritus, Brown University, October 2017; and by Frances Van Keuren, Prof. Emerita, Lamar Dodd School of Art, Univ. of Georgia, December 2025
Literary sources edited by Elena Bianchelli, Retired Senior Lecturer of Classical Languages and Culture, Univ. of Georgia, March 2022.
