Semi-public Narration in Apollonius' Argonautica 9042914327, 9789042914322

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HELLENISTICAGRONINGANA8

HELLENISTICAGRONINGANA MONOGRAPHS

Editorial Board: M.A. Harder R.F. Regtuit G.C. Wakker

SEMI-PUBLICNARRATION IN APOLLONIUS'ARGONAUTICA

Advisory Board:

by K. Gutzwiller, Cincinatti, OH R.L. Hunter, Cambridge A. Kohnken, Munster R.F. Thomas, Cambridge, Mass. F. Williams, Belfast

Gary BERKOWITZ

M.A. Harder, R. F. Regtuit, G.C. Wakker, Callimachus, 1993. M.A. Harder, R.F. Regtuit, G.C. Wakker, Theacritus, 1996. M.A. Harder,R.F. Regtuit,G.C. Wakker,Genre in Hellenistic Poetry, 1998. M.A. Harder, R.F. Regtuit, G.C. Wakker,Apo/lonius Rhodius, 2000. L. Rossi, The Epigrams Ascribed to Theocritus: A Method of Approach, 2001. 6. M.A. Harder, R,F. Regtuit, G.C. Wakker, Hellenistic Epigrams, 2002. 7. M.A. Harder, R.F. Regtuit, G.C. Wakker, Ca/limachus ll, 2004.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

PEETERS LEUVEN- PARIS - DUDLEY,MA 2004

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Berkowitz, Gary. Semi-public narration in Apollonius' Argonautica / by Gary Berkowitz. p. cm. - (Hellenistica Groningana; v. 8) Includes bibliographical references (p. ). ISBN 90-429-1432-7 I. Apollonius, Rhodius. Argonautica. 2. Greek poetry, Hellenistic--History and criticism. 3. Epic poetry, Greek--History and criticism. 4. Argonauts (Greek mythology) in literature. 5. Jason (Greek mythology) in literature. 6. Medea (Greek mythology) in literature. 7. Apollonius, Rhodius--Technique. 8. Narration (Rhetoric) 9. Rhetoric, Medieval. I. Title. II. Series. PA3872.Z4B38 2004 883'.0l--dc22

2003070671

This book is the result of a doctoral dissertation written while I attended the Universityof Cincinnati. I would like to thank my readers, ProfessorsAnn Michelini and William Johnson, for the large amount of effort they spent in formulatingtheir critical comments.I am especiallyindebted to my advisor, Professor Kathryn Gutzwiller.Her levels of professionalism and insight, which had such a profound effect on the quality of this book, were as high as anyone could ever want or expect.

© 2004 - Peeters - Bondgenotenlaan 153 - B-3000 Leuven - Belgium

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval septem, or transmitted, in any fonns or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of

the holder of the copyright.

ISBN 90-429-1432-7 D. 2004/0602/39

CONTENTS

Introdnction Narrative Problems in Apollonius' Argonautica Chapter I Statements of Ptivate Narrators A. The Symplegades Episode I. The Exhortation of Phineus 2. Tiphys' Speech B. The Argonautic Prehistory I. The Iolkian Narrator . 2. Jason's Prayer to Apollo 3. Jason's Speech to the Sons of Phrixos Zeus' Role in Causing the Expedition Jason's Rhetorical Motives 4. Argos' Speech to Aietes ...... . Chapter II Parallel Statements by Public and Private Narrators in the Lemnian Episode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. The Narrator's Account of the Lemnian Prehistory B. Hypsipyle's Account of the Lemnian Prehistory

I II 11 11 18 22 23 25 27 28 30

35

43 43

46

Chapter III Statements of the Public Narrator to Private Narratees A. Apollo in the Proem to Book I . . . . . . . . B. The Narrator and the Muses ......... . I. The Muses as Interpreters in Books I and II 2. Erato as Informer in Books III and IV The Proem to Book III Erato in Book IV 3. The Muses as Interpreters in Book IV The Invocation about the Causes of the Western Route The Phaiakian Episode The Libyan Episode . . . . . . . . . . . .

53 53 62 62 79 79 83 86 86 89 92

Chapter IV Statements of Private Narrators to the Public Narrator A. The Presentation of Gods and Goddesses . . .

97 98

VIII

CONTENTS

1. The Plurality of Divinities that Assist the Argonauts 2. Hera's Dispositions ..... . Hera in the Proem to Book I Phineus' Comment about Hera 3. Hera's Actions in Books I and II The Earth-born Monsters Hera and Ankaios 4. Hera's Indirect Actions in Books Ill and IV Hera's Conversations with Athena and Aphrodite Hera's Conversations with Iris and Thetis 5. Hera' s Direct Actions in Books III and IV Hera' s Attempt to Accelerate the Return Journey Hera and Zeus . . . . . . . . Hera in the Phaiakian Episode 6. Athena in Books III and IV Athena at the Beginning of Book III Jason's Cloak . . . . . . Athena in Book IV B. The Presentation of the Erotic 1. The Process of Falling in Love Falling in Love in Book I Falling in Love in Book III Assistance from Aphrodite Aphrodite's Social Context Eros' Social Context 2. The Pangs of Love Medea ..... . The Nymph who Abducts Hylas The Moon .......... . Polyphemos and Herakles . . . The Argonauts and the Lemnian Women

Conclusion

............................

98 102

103 107

INTRODUCTION: NARRATIVE PROBLEMS IN APOLLONIUS' ARGONAUT/CA

108

108 110

111 111 112 114 114 116

117 120 120 122 126 128 128 128 129 130 133 135 137

137 138

140 142 145 149

Appendix Speech Acts of Narrators and Characters in the Argonautica

151

Bibliography Texts, Commentaries, and Indices Other Cited Works . . . . . . . .

155 157

The Argonautica has long been noted for being a difficult poem to read and understand. For instance, it has been characterized as lacking, for the most part, "a unity of subject," and "a general, active, continuous, and concentrated interest." 1 In this view, its narrative is a confused conglomeration of a multitude of details from an exceptionally rich mythological tradition 2 • More recently, it has been said that "inconsistency and unevenness," reign in all aspects of the poem, including its "narrative style, tonal level, characterisation," and "literary texture." 3 In the present work, moreover, I will frequently discuss passages that misdirect the reader into false expectations, and instances in which the actions of characters seem unmotivated. The difficulties in interpretation apparently arise because the poem's narrative voices - those of the narrator and various characters continually fail to provide the reader with an adequate amount of information. These voices often reveal perspectives that are rather limited, and the reader must continually take into consideration that the narrator's words can be biased by a point of view that is particular and non-authoritative. The narrator's own words, in fact, often resemble the words of his speaking characters, and the poem can at times seem like a dialogue between the narrator and his characters. Scholars have treated the poem's difficulties in a variety of other ways 4• It is rather common, for instance, to reinterpret the text in such a manner that the difficulties are no longer apparent. The underlying assumption would be that the narrator must be consistent and logical. If he does not seem so, it is the fault of the reader. Scholars using this approach cite later passages to prove that an earlier statement can only have one meaning 5• In doing so, though, they overlook the way that a 1. Sainte-Beuve (1889), 363. 2. Maekail (1926), 247. 3. Hunter (1993), 5. Cf. Beye (1982), 34, who comments that the poem's "unpredictability,... deliberatestrangeness,and amusedironictone cancel the kindof coherence which is common to classical stylists." Beye concludes that for many, "this translates into the feeling that the Argonautica has no symmetryor unity." 4. I have modeled the following discussionon the summaryof approachesto Homeric inconsistenciesthat is given by Morrison(1992), 3. 5. E.g., see ChapterIII, where I discuss how the narratorasks the Muses to be the interpretersof his song (MoUcra:tO'{moq:rfycopea86v, cf. IV.1505-12, where the narrator, when describing the snake that kills the Argonaut Mopsos, addresses Apollo and says that if it is lawful for him to speak publicly (et µoi 06µ1c;dµqia.80v elrteiv, 1511), the snake's poison quickly causes death even if Apollo should treat the victim with drugs. The narrator thereby implies that it is unlawful for him to say some things publicly, i.e., to his readership. Cf. also Hom. /l.IX.367-72, where Achilles bids Odysseus to tell Agamemnon everything, as he orders, publicly, so that even the other Achaians might be angry (i-4) rc&vi-'&:yopeuSµcv, c'bi;SmttAA©, / 0.µqia86v, Oqipa Kai ciAA.ot£1tt01