Apollonius of rhodes biography of donald

Apollonius of Rhodes, too known as Apollonius Rhodius (early third century B.C.E. - stern B.C.E.), was an epic bard, scholar, and director of picture Library of Alexandria.

He appreciation best known for his extravagant poem, the Argonautica, which put into words of the mythological story incessantly Jason and the Argonauts' discern for the Golden Fleece limit is one of the superlative works in the history dig up epic poetry.

Like Homer's Iliad and Odyssey,Argonautica was written have hexameters and is comparable unity these epic poems.

Often, Apollonius paraphrases Homer, who was become aware of popular at the court additional the Ptolemaic rulers, Ptolemy IV Philopator and Arsinoe III. Near is a major difference halfway Apollonius' heroes and those slant Homer, however: Apollonius' heroes tell off heroines are, from a intellectual point of view, more approximately and credible.

Apollonius's poem divine the Roman Valerius Flaccus' Argonautica.

The sources dealing with Apollonius's life are sketchy and much contradictory. It is clear, on the contrary, Apollonius was not born dilemma Rhodes, but adopted the cognomen "Rhodius" while living there. Closure was born in either Town or Naucratis, which lay southeast of Alexandria on the River.

He lived for a always in Rhodes, and he set aside the post of Librarian chops least until B.C.E. He was a student of the sonneteer and scholar Callimachus, and thither are also accounts of regular later, bitter feud between rendering student and his mentor.

Life

There are four main sources loom information on Apollonius' life: Twosome texts entitled, Life of Apollonius; an entry on him remove the tenth century encyclopedia, interpretation Suda; and a second 100 B.C.E.papyrus, , which provides honourableness names of several heads achieve the Library of Alexandria.

In relation to miscellaneous texts provide further word.

Birth: The two Lives jaunt the Suda name Apollonius' dad as Silleus or Illeus. Representation second Life names his local as "Rhode," meaning "Rhodian woman," but this may merely lay at somebody's door an attempt to explain Apollonius' epithet "Rhodian." The Lives, rank Suda, and the historian Strabo all agree that Apollonius came from Alexandria; Athenaeus and Aelian, however, say that he came from Naucratis, some miles southernmost of Alexandria along the glide Nile.^[1] No source gives representation date of his birth.

Student of Callimachus: The Lives final the Suda agree that Apollonius was a student of influence poet and scholar Callimachus. Description second Life adds that "some say" Apollonius was buried observe Callimachus.

Head of the Read of Alexandria: The second Life, the Suda< and attest depart Apollonius held this post. Owner. Oxy. establishes that Apollonius was succeeded by Eratosthenes; this be obliged have been after / B.C.E., the date of the affidavit of Ptolemy III Euergetes, who seems to be the ruler that appointed Eratosthenes.

The Suda says that Apollonius succeeded Stargazer, but this is impossible: Apollonius studied with Callimachus, who on top form ca. B.C.E.; the first Life says Apollonius was contemporary ready to go Ptolemy III; and Eratosthenes reserved the post until at nadir B.C.E. The Suda entry pus Eratosthenes says that Eratosthenes restricted the post from the command of Ptolemy III Euergetes in the balance Ptolemy V.

Move from Town to Rhodes: The Lives celebrated the Suda attest to Apollonius moving from Alexandria to Moneyman. It is uncertain, however, perforce he died there, or willy-nilly he came back to Metropolis in order to take inhibit the position of head be the owner of the Library after his stretch in Rhodes.

Death: Only honourableness two Lives give information take in Apollonius' death, and they fall out.

The first says he deadly in Rhodes; the second says he died after returning give out Alexandria.

From this, one receptacle conclude that (1) Apollonius was born in either Alexandria lesser Naucratis; (2) he lived shelter a time in Rhodes; (3) he held the post curst Librarian at least until B.C.E. From this, in turn, individual may infer that he flybynight in the early-to-mid third c B.C.E. Beyond this point hoop-la only speculation.

Sensational stories

A back copy of sources speak of ingenious bitter feud between Apollonius with the addition of his former teacher, Callimachus. Representation Palatine Anthology preserves an play on words, attributed to "Apollonius the grammarian," which mocks Callimachus and crown most famous poem, the Aetia(Causes): "Callimachus: Trash, cheat, wood-for-brains."^[2] Train in addition, multiple sources explain Callimachus' poem, Ibis— which has mewl survived—as a polemic against finish enemy identified as Apollonius.

Mid them, these references conjure shape images of a sensational literate feud between the two vote. However, the truth of that story continues to be debated in modern scholarship, with views on both sides. Both gaze at the Lives of Apollonius abrasive the friendship between the poets; the second Life even claims they were buried together; distinguished some scholars doubt the multiplicity that identify the Ibis restructuring a polemic against Apollonius.

Respecting is still not a unanimity, but most scholars of Hellenistic literature now believe the quarrel was enormously sensationalized, if overcome happened at all.^[3]

A second sensationalized story about Apollonius is depiction account in the Lives dressing-down how, as a young chap, he gave a performance match his epic, the Argonautica, engage Alexandria.

He was universally mocked for it, and fled penny Rhodes in shame. There, smartness was feted by the Rhodians and given citizenship.

After that, according to the second Life, he made a triumphant repay to Alexandria, where he was promptly elevated to head albatross the Library. It is trivial that much of this legal action factual; the story is pure mixture of "local boy adjusts good" and "underdog makes uncluttered heroic comeback." Fairytale elements much as these are characteristic search out ancient biographies.

The Argonautica

The Argonautica differs epoxy resin some respects from traditional tell what to do Homeric Greek epic, though Apollonius certainly used Homer as swell model.

For one thing, rank Argonautica is shorter than Homer’s epics, with four books totaling less than 6, lines, deeprooted the Iliad runs to addition than 16, lines. Apollonius might have been influenced here impervious to Callimachus’ brevity, or by Aristotle’s recommendation that poems be "on a smaller scale than magnanimity old epics, and answering overcome length to the group extent tragedies presented at a lone sitting" (the Poetics).

Apollonius' magnanimous also differs from the extend traditional epic in its really human protagonist, Jason. Both that hero and others appear improved three-dimensional and psychologically credible hassle Apollonius' work. Argonautica also gives many accounts of the cradle of local customs (aetiology) with other popular subjects of Hellenistic poetry.

Apollonius also chooses magnanimity less-shocking versions of some folklore, having Medea, for example, only watch the murder of Apsyrtus instead of murdering him himself. The gods are relatively cool and inactive throughout much pageant the epic, following the Hellenistic trend to allegorize and elucidate religion.

Heterosexual loves such restructuring Jason's are emphasized more overrun homosexual loves, such as rove of Heracles and Hylas, option trend in Hellenistic literature. Repeat critics regard the love virtuous Medea and Jason in honesty third book as the unqualified written and most memorable adventure.

Legacy

Opinions on Apollonius' lasting imposition to Western literature, the Argonautica, have changed over time.

Wretched critics in antiquity considered be a success mediocre.^[4] Recent criticism has unique a renaissance of interest pin down the poem and an grasp of its qualities, with many scholarly studies published regularly. Lying influence on later poets, come into sight Virgil, is now well endorsed, and any account of grandeur history of epic poetry these days routinely includes substantial attention have a high opinion of Apollonius.

Notes

References

ISBN links facilitate NWE through referral fees

• Beye, Physicist Rowan.

  Ancient Epic Poetry: Safety, Apollonius, Virgil, with a Strut on the Gilgamesh Poems. Bolchazy Carducci Pub., ISBN

• Cameron, Alan. Callimachus and his Critics. Town University Press, ISBN
• Clare, R.J. The Path of the Argo: Language, Imagery and Narrative end in the Argonautica of Apollonius Rhodius.

  Cambridge University Press, ISBN

• Harder, M.A. & M. Cuypers (ed.) Beginning from Apollo: Studies blessed Apollonius Rhodius and the Argonautic Tradition. Peeters, ISBN X
• Hunter, Richard L. The Argonautica of Apollonius: Literary Studies. Cambridge University Push, ISBN
• Nelis, D.P. Vergil's Epic and the Argonautica of Apollonius Rhodius.

  Leeds University Press, ISBN

• Rhodes, Apollonius. Jason and rendering Golden Fleece. Francis Cairns Publications, ISBN

External links

All links retrieved August 11,