The Argonautika, the only surviving epic of the Hellenistic era, is a retelling of the tale of Jason and the Golden Fleece, probably the oldest extant Greek myth. Peter Green's lively, readable verse translation captures the swift narrative movement of Apollonios's epic Greek. This expanded paperback edition contains Green's incisive commentary, introduction, and glossary.

Alternate spelling: Argonautica, Apollonius Rhodius

The Argonautika narrates the adventures of Jason and his comrades, the Argonauts, when they sailed from Iolkos, in eastern Greece, on the ship Argo to acquire the Gold Fleece from King Aietes of Kolchis, at the far end of the Black Sea. Book 3 tells how they achieved their aim with the aid of the king's daughter, Medea, who fell in love with Jason, betrayed her father, and abandoned her homeland. Finally it relates the Argonauts' far-flung wanderings on their voyage home to Iolkos, during which Medea connived in the murder of her brother and became Jason's wife. This translation represents...