أرجونوتيكا .. أبولونيوس الرودسي

Anyone who has ever been fascinated by The Magnificent Seven or a Marvel Comics film that assembles a team of great epic heroes for a good cause will understand the archetype and template that drives Apollonius's retelling of the ancient Argo myth, in which a group of charismatic pre-Trojan heroes embark on a perilous adventure. This new edition of the epic can play an invaluable role in many lessons dealing with ancient literature or focusing on heroic adventures in the literature of any era. Readers will be able to understand not only the story itself, but also the culture that produced it, as well as the complex and sometimes contradictory values ​​of heroism and nobility, which are both celebrated and challenged in Apollonius's great poem. Lombardo and Bolselli present the Argonautica in poetic form (with useful narrative titles and lengthy similes in italics), allowing the story to develop powerfully but in a balanced manner, as only poetry can do. This enables the reader to focus on the patterns of images and the skill in drawing characters, their character, their dialogues, and their linguistic style, which are somewhat absent in prose translations that focus on narratives, information, and events. The translation is clear, lively, direct and engaging, preserving the caring voice of Apollonius (one of the epic's most accomplished narrators), Jason's captivating charm, and Medea's enchanting charisma. It is difficult to imagine a more accessible and close translation of the story, or a translation with such smoothness and excitement. Students will benefit from an excellent appendix including maps, a detailed glossary, and a useful appendix containing selections from Euripides' works, as well as a wonderful introduction by Tara Welsh, which is also a first-rate literary essay on the main themes of the poem. Among these themes, her reflections on Jason's questionable leadership and wavering standing highlight the appeal and wonder of this great adventure story.