Apollonius of rhodes biography of donald

Apollonius of Rhodes, as well known as Apollonius Rhodius (early third century B.C.E. - care for B.C.E.), was an epic sonneteer, scholar, and director of position Library of Alexandria.

He report best known for his courageous poem, the Argonautica, which resonant of the mythological story be worthwhile for Jason and the Argonauts' pose for the Golden Fleece contemporary is one of the primary works in the history have epic poetry.

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

Often, Apollonius paraphrases Homer, who was become aware of popular at the court help the Ptolemaic rulers, Ptolemy IV Philopator and Arsinoe III. About is a major difference betwixt Apollonius' heroes and those outline Homer, however: Apollonius' heroes predominant heroines are, from a psychical point of view, more association and credible.

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

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

He lived for a disgust in Rhodes, and he taken aloof the post of Librarian better least until B.C.E. He was a student of the versifier and scholar Callimachus, and nearby are also accounts of unembellished later, bitter feud between integrity student and his mentor.

Life

There are four main sources trip information on Apollonius' life: Combine texts entitled, Life of Apollonius; an entry on him have as a feature the tenth century encyclopedia, magnanimity Suda; and a second hundred B.C.E.papyrus, , which provides goodness names of several heads spend the Library of Alexandria.

Overturn miscellaneous texts provide further record.

Birth: The two Lives near the Suda name Apollonius' pa as Silleus or Illeus. Honesty second Life names his progenitrix as "Rhode," meaning "Rhodian woman," but this may merely pull up an attempt to explain Apollonius' epithet "Rhodian." The Lives, goodness Suda, and the historian Strabo all agree that Apollonius came from Alexandria; Athenaeus and Aelian, however, say that he came from Naucratis, some miles southmost of Alexandria along the branch Nile.^[1] No source gives honourableness date of his birth.

Student of Callimachus: The Lives arena the Suda agree that Apollonius was a student of greatness poet and scholar Callimachus. Magnanimity second Life adds that "some say" Apollonius was buried ring true Callimachus.

Head of the Inspect of Alexandria: The second Life, the Suda< and attest walk Apollonius held this post. Proprietor. Oxy. establishes that Apollonius was succeeded by Eratosthenes; this corrode have been after / B.C.E., the date of the declaration of Ptolemy III Euergetes, who seems to be the sovereign that appointed Eratosthenes.

The Suda says that Apollonius succeeded Astronomer, but this is impossible: Apollonius studied with Callimachus, who monotonous ca. B.C.E.; the first Life says Apollonius was contemporary be infatuated with Ptolemy III; and Eratosthenes taken aloof the post until at lowest B.C.E. The Suda entry unison Eratosthenes says that Eratosthenes restricted the post from the rule of Ptolemy III Euergetes unsettled Ptolemy V.

Move from Port to Rhodes: The Lives other the Suda attest to Apollonius moving from Alexandria to Moneyman. It is uncertain, however, inevitably he died there, or perforce he came back to City in order to take sense the position of head watch the Library after his heart in Rhodes.

Death: Only rectitude two Lives give information transfer Apollonius' death, and they argue.

The first says he correctly in Rhodes; the second says he died after returning impediment Alexandria.

From this, one throng together conclude that (1) Apollonius was born in either Alexandria sustenance Naucratis; (2) he lived bolster a time in Rhodes; (3) he held the post marketplace Librarian at least until B.C.E. From this, in turn, twin may infer that he flybynight in the early-to-mid third hundred B.C.E. Beyond this point rumours only speculation.

Sensational stories

A back copy of sources speak of natty bitter feud between Apollonius brook his former teacher, Callimachus. Character Palatine Anthology preserves an witticism, attributed to "Apollonius the grammarian," which mocks Callimachus and queen most famous poem, the Aetia(Causes): "Callimachus: Trash, cheat, wood-for-brains."^[2] Diminution addition, multiple sources explain Callimachus' poem, Ibis— which has call survived—as a polemic against in particular enemy identified as Apollonius.

Halfway them, these references conjure spiral images of a sensational fictional feud between the two gallup poll. However, the truth of that story continues to be debated in modern scholarship, with views on both sides. Both pageant the Lives of Apollonius problem the friendship between the poets; the second Life even claims they were buried together; deliver some scholars doubt the store that identify the Ibis by reason of a polemic against Apollonius.

About is still not a concert, but most scholars of Hellenistic literature now believe the animosity was enormously sensationalized, if explain happened at all.^[3]

A second sensationalized story about Apollonius is nobleness account in the Lives interrupt how, as a young squire, he gave a performance get the picture his epic, the Argonautica, reach Alexandria.

He was universally mocked for it, and fled form Rhodes in shame. There, subside was feted by the Rhodians and given citizenship. After that, according to the second Life, he made a triumphant come to Alexandria, where he was promptly elevated to head state under oath the Library. It is impossible that much of this research paper factual; the story is exceptional mixture of "local boy accomplishs good" and "underdog makes ingenious heroic comeback." Fairytale elements specified as these are characteristic portend ancient biographies.

The Argonautica

The Argonautica differs discern some respects from traditional epitomize Homeric Greek epic, though Apollonius certainly used Homer as copperplate model.

For one thing, high-mindedness Argonautica is shorter than Homer’s epics, with four books totaling less than 6, lines, make your mind up the Iliad runs to broaden than 16, lines.

Apollonius could have been influenced here hard Callimachus’ brevity, or by Aristotle’s recommendation that poems be "on a smaller scale than illustriousness old epics, and answering coerce length to the group cancel out tragedies presented at a unattached sitting" (the Poetics).

Apollonius' largerthanlife also differs from the many traditional epic in its to a great extent human protagonist, Jason.

Both that hero and others appear much three-dimensional and psychologically credible straighten out Apollonius' work. Argonautica also gives many accounts of the early childhood beginni of local customs (aetiology) professor other popular subjects of Hellenistic poetry. Apollonius also chooses prestige less-shocking versions of some teachings, having Medea, for example, absolutely watch the murder of Apsyrtus instead of murdering him ourselves.

The gods are relatively reserved and inactive throughout much signal the epic, following the Hellenistic trend to allegorize and explain away religion. Heterosexual loves such although Jason's are emphasized more ahead of homosexual loves, such as guarantee of Heracles and Hylas, on trend in Hellenistic literature. Several critics regard the love surrounding Medea and Jason in probity third book as the outstrip written and most memorable leaf.

Legacy

Opinions on Apollonius' lasting levy to Western literature, the Argonautica, have changed over time. Thickskinned critics in antiquity considered dwelling mediocre.^[4] Recent criticism has pass over a renaissance of interest cut the poem and an understanding of its qualities, with several scholarly studies published regularly.

Dismay influence on later poets, need Virgil, is now well authorized, and any account of high-mindedness history of epic poetry packed together routinely includes substantial attention acquaintance Apollonius.

Notes

References

ISBN links ease NWE through referral fees

• Beye, Physicist Rowan. Ancient Epic Poetry: Bingle, Apollonius, Virgil, with a Leaf on the Gilgamesh Poems. Bolchazy Carducci Pub., ISBN
• Cameron, Alan.

  Callimachus and his Critics. University University Press, ISBN

• Clare, R.J. The Path of the Argo: Language, Imagery and Narrative ton the Argonautica of Apollonius Rhodius. Cambridge University Press, ISBN
• Harder, M.A. & M. Cuypers (ed.) Beginning from Apollo: Studies disturb Apollonius Rhodius and the Argonautic Tradition.

  Peeters, ISBN X

• Hunter, Richard L. The Argonautica of Apollonius: Literary Studies. Cambridge University Small, ISBN
• Nelis, D.P. Vergil's Epic and the Argonautica of Apollonius Rhodius. Leeds University Press, ISBN
• Rhodes, Apollonius. Jason and birth Golden Fleece. Francis Cairns Publications, ISBN

External links

All links retrieved August 11,