ὧς ἄρ᾽ ἔφη: καὶ τὸν μέν ἐπισχεδὸν εὔνασεν ὕπνος.1110

ἡ δ᾽ ἔπος ἐν θυμῷ πυκινὸν βάλετ᾽: αὐτίκα δ᾽ ὦρτο

ἐκ λεχέων ἀνὰ δῶμα: συνήιξαν δὲ γυναῖκες

ἀμφίπολοι, δέσποιναν ἑὴν μέτα ποιπνύουσαι.

σῖγα δ᾽ ἑὸν κήρυκα καλεσσαμένη προσέειπεν,

ᾗσιν ἐπιφροσύνῃσιν ἐποτρυνέουσα μιγῆναι1115

Αἰσονίδην κούρῃ, μηδ᾽ Ἀλκίνοον βασιλῆα

λίσσεσθαι: τὸ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἰὼν Κόλχοισι δικάσσει,

παρθενικὴν μὲν έοῦσαν ἑοῦ ποτὶ δώματα πατρὸς

ἐκδώσειν, λέκτρον δὲ σὺν ἀνέρι πορσαίνουσαν

οὐκέτι κουριδίης μιν ἀποτμήξειν φιλότητος.1120

ὧς ἄρ᾽ ἔφη: τὸν δ᾽ αἶψα πόδες φέρον ἐκ μεγάροιο,

ὥς κεν Ἰήσονι μῦθον ἐναίσιμον ἀγγείλειεν

Ἀρήτης βουλάς τε θεουδέος Ἀλκινόοιο.

τοὺς δ᾽ εὗρεν παρὰ νηὶ σὺν ἔντεσιν ἐγρήσσοντας

Ὑλλικῷ ἐν λιμένι, σχεδὸν ἄστεος: ἐκ δ᾽ ἄρα πᾶσαν1125

πέφραδεν ἀγγελίην: γήθησε δὲ θυμὸς ἑκάστου

ἡρώων: μάλα γάρ σφιν ἑαδότα μῦθον ἔειπεν.

αὐτίκα δὲ κρητῆρα κερασσάμενοι μακάρεσσιν,

ἣ θέμις, εὐαγέως ἐπιβώμια μῆλ᾽ ἐρύσαντες,

αὐτονυχὶ κούρῃ θαλαμήιον ἔντυον εὐνὴν1130

ἄντρῳ ἐν ἠγαθέῳ, τόθι δή ποτε Μάκρις ἔναιεν,

κούρη Ἀρισταίοιο μελίφρονος, ὅς ῥα μελισσέων

ἔργα πολυκμήτοιό τ᾽ ἀνεύρατο πῖαρ ἐλαίης.

κείνη δὴ πάμπρωτα Διὸς Νυσήιον υἷα

Εὐβοίης ἔντοσθεν Ἀβαντίδος ᾧ ἐνὶ κόλπῳ1135

δέξατο, καὶ μέλιτι ξηρὸν περὶ χεῖλος ἔδευσεν,

εὖτέ μιν Ἑρμείας φέρεν ἐκ πυρός: ἔδρακε δ᾽ Ἥρη,

καί ἑ χολωσαμένη πάσης ἐξήλασε νήσου.

ἡ δ᾽ ἄρα Φαιήκων ἱερῷ ἐνὶ τηλόθεν ἄντρῳ

νάσσατο, καὶ πόρεν ὄλβον ἀθέσφατον ἐνναέτῃσιν.1140

ἔνθα τότ᾽ ἐστόρεσαν λέκτρον μέγα: τοῖο δ᾽ ὕπερθεν

χρύσεον αἰγλῆεν κῶας βάλον, ὄφρα πέλοιτο

τιμήεις τε γάμος καὶ ἀοίδιμος. ἄνθεα δέ σφιν

νύμφαι ἀμεργόμεναι λευκοῖς ἐνὶ ποικίλα κόλποις

ἐσφόρεον: πάσας δὲ πυρὸς ὣς ἄμφεπεν αἴγλη:1145

τοῖον ἀπὸ χρυσέων θυσάνων ἀμαρύσσετο φέγγος.

δαῖε δ᾽ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς γλυκερὸν πόθον: ἴσχε δ᾽ ἑκάστην

αἰδὼς ἱεμένην περ ὅμως ἐπὶ χεῖρα βαλέσθαι.

αἱ μέν τ᾽ Αἰγαίου ποταμοῦ καλέοντο θύγατρες:

αἱ δ᾽ ὄρεος κορυφὰς Μελιτηίου ἀμφενέμοντο:1150

αἱ δ᾽ ἔσαν ἐκ πεδίων ἀλσηίδες. ὦρσε γὰρ αὐτὴ

Ἥρη Ζηνὸς ἄκοιτις, Ἰήσονα κυδαίνουσα.

κεῖνο καὶ εἰσέτι νῦν ἱερὸν κληίζεται ἄντρον

Μηδείης, ὅθι τούσγε σὺν ἀλλήλοισιν ἔμιξαν

τεινάμεναι ἑανοὺς εὐώδεας. οἱ δ᾽ ἐνὶ χερσὶν1155

δούρατα νωμήσαντες ἀρήια, μὴ πρὶν ἐς ἀλκὴν

δυσμενέων ἀίδηλος ἐπιβρίσειεν ὅμιλος,

κράατα δ᾽ εὐφύλλοις ἐστεμμένοι ἀκρεμόνεσσιν,

ἐμμελέως, Ὀρφῆος ὑπαὶ λίγα φορμίζοντος

νυμφιδίαις ὑμέναιον ἐπὶ προμολῇσιν ἄειδον.1160

οὐ μὲν ἐν Ἀλκινόοιο γάμον μενέαινε τελέσσαι

ἥρως Αἰσονίδης, μεγάροις δ᾽ ἐνὶ πατρὸς ἑοῖο,

νοστήσας ἐς Ἰωλκὸν ὑπότροπος: ὧς δὲ καὶ αὐτὴ

Μήδεια φρονέεσκε: τότ᾽ αὖ χρεὼ ἦγε μιγῆναι.

ἀλλὰ γὰρ οὔποτε φῦλα δυηπαθέων ἀνθρώπων1165

τερπωλῆς ἐπέβημεν ὅλῳ ποδί: σὺν δέ τις αἰεὶ

πικρὴ παρμέμβλωκεν ἐυφροσύνῃσιν ἀνίη.

τῶ καὶ τοὺς γλυκερῇ περ ἰαινομένους φιλότητι

δεῖμ᾽ ἔχεν, εἰ τελέοιτο διάκρισις Ἀλκινόοιο.

    The marriage of Jason and Medea:

    Alcinous offers to mediate between the two sides, later confiding in Arete, that he means to surrender Medea to the Colchians, unless she happens to be married. The queen reveals this to the lovers and they are duly married in a sacred cave on the island.

    1110: ἐπισχεδὸν εὔνασεν ὕπνος: “immediately sleep laid him to rest.” Odysseus goes to sleep similarly at Od. 20.1 ἐν προδόμῳ εὐνάζετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς but thinking different thoughts from Alcinoos who has made up his mind and know what will happen next. Medea cannot sleep at 1060, though the phrase is similar.

    1111: ἔπος . . . πυκινὸν: “his wise word,” adding to the characterisation of the statesman-like Alcinoos. αὐτίκα δ᾿ ὦρτο: “she immediately rose.” The pace quickens and the phrases shorten. Enjambment is used to carry the action along.

    1112: ἐκ λεχέων ἀνὰ δῶμα: a compressed phrase; “(she rose) from her bed (and went) through the house.” συνήιξαν: “rushed up.” There is similar activity, on the housemaids’ part, in Odysseus’ house, though of a different nature.

    1113: μέτα governs δέσποιναν ἑὴν in anastropheποιπνύουσαι: “bustled, fussed around.” Apart from Hephaestus’ ‘mechanicals’, this is the proper word to use about Housemaids’ work: Od20.149.

    1114: σῖγα δ᾿: “and silently . . .,” emphasising the clandestine nature of the operation. Night is the time for action, here and at the beginning of Book 4. κήρυκα καλεσσαμένη: “having summoned her herald (messenger).

    1115: ᾗσιν ἐπιφροσύνῃσιν: “in her wisdom,” echoing the Odyssean Arete: Od7.74, with a subtle variation. ἐποτρυνέουσα: “to encourage:” fut. part. of purpose with Αἰσονίδην as the object. μιγῆναι: “to have sex with:” aor. infin. pass. < μίγνυμι.

    1116: Αἰσονίδην κούρῃ: the juxtaposition of the nouns emphasises the blunt nature of Arete’s advice: “Get on with it!”

    1116–7: μηδ᾿. . . / λίσσεσθαι: “not to bother pleading . . .” After λίσσεσθαι the syntax changes, perhaps to mark the important role that Alcinoos’ judgment will play. The detail of the decision is repeated (from 1106–9), not word for word, which would be the Homeric way but with subtle variations with a fine concluding line (1120 below), with its interlaced word order.

    1120: κουριδίης μιν ἀποτμήξειν φιλότητος: “will not sever her from wedded love.” ἀποτμήξειν: fut. inf. act. < ἀποτμήγω.

    1121: πόδες φέρον: similarly Medea at 4. 66. The herald speeds on his way. The short phrase (πόδες as subject of the verb) conveys the speed of the narrative.

    1122: μῦθον ἐναίσιμον: “opportune advice.” ἀγγείλειεν: aor. opt. act. 3rd sg. < ἀγγέλλω.

    1123: θεουδέος Ἀλκινόοιο: “god-fearing Alcinoos”, another Odyssean echo: Od19.109 (Odysseus describing what the role of a kingshould be.)

    1124: τοὺς δ᾿ εὗρεν: “he found them,” i.e. the Argonauts. ἐγρήσσοντας: “keeping watch.” They are maintaining a night watch as they do at the beginning of Book 4, when Medea comes across the River Phasis to them.

    1125: Ὑλλικῷ ἐν λιμένι: the omega in Ὑλλικῷ is short by position: “the harbour of Hyllusσχεδὸν ἄστεος: “near the city,” which may or may not be true. References to the harbours of Scherie / Drepane / Corfu, however, add verisimilitude to the narrative.

    1125–6: πᾶσαν / . . . ἀγγελίην: “the message in full.” There is no repetition of Arete’s advice as there would be in Homer. πέφραδεν: aor. ind. act. 3rd sg. < φράζω.

    1126–7: γήθησε . . . ἡρώων: “each hero’s heart rejoiced.” ἑαδότα μῦθον: “welcome news,” varying μῦθον ἐναίσιμον (1122 above).

    1128: αὐτίκα: the action continues to move quickly. κρητῆρα κερασσάμενοι: “mixing a mixing bowl;” see LSJ s.v. A1 κρατήρ. The phrase is the Homeric formula for mixing wine and water together in a mixing bowl.

    1129: εὐαγέως: “reverently, with due ritual.” ἐπιβώμια μῆλ᾿: “sheep to the altar.” For similar scenes of sacrifice see further (Clauss 1993, 85) and for Greek sacrifice in general (Burkert 1983, 56–57).

    1130: αὐτονυχί: “for that very night.” For the preparation of the marriage bed (θαλαμήιον . . . εὐνὴν), see further (Oakley and Sinos 1993, 35).

    1131: ἄντρῳ ἐν ἠγαθέῳ: “in the sacred cave.” It is impossible to decide between this and ζαθέῳ, the reading of a late first century papyrus. ζάθεος only occurs at 1.933 in A., while ἠγάθεος can be paralleled (3.981). Μάκρις: has been mentioned before (4.540). This wedding in a holy cave probably echoes that of Peleus and Thetis.

    1132: κούρη Ἀρισταίοιο: “the daughter of Aristaeus.” περίφρονος is the reading of a Papyrus: “wise”, μελίφρονος: “whose care is honey,” the transmitted text might be the result of what immediately follows but it might also be seen as a clever Alexandrian variation.

    1133: πολυκμήτοιό . . . πῖαρ ἐλαίης: “the rich oil of the olive which requires much labour.” ἀνεύρατο: “discovered.” aor. ind. mid. 3rd. sg. < ἀνευρίσκω.

    1134: κείνη δὴ: “she it was.” Διὸς Νυσήιον υἷα: “the Nysean son of Zeus,” i.e. Dionysus, born on Mount Nysa.

    1135: Εὐβοίης ἔντοσθεν Ἀβαντίδος: “in Abantian Euboea.”

    1135­–6: ᾧ ἐνὶ κόλπῳ / δέξατο: “received in her bosom.” ξηρὸν περὶ χεῖλος: “about his parched lip.” ἔδευσεν: “smeared” rather than “wet.” She is rubbing the baby’s lips with her finger.

    1137: ἐκ πυρός: “from the fire,” an allusive and compressed reference to Hermes’ saving Dionysus from the fire that destroyed his mother Semeleἔδρακε δ᾿ Ἥρη: “Hera saw this:” aor. ind. act. 3rd. sg. < δέρκομαι.

    1138: χολωσαμένη: “in her anger.” Hera’s jealousy towards Zeus’ lovers was proverbial. ἑ . . . πάσης ἐξήλασε νήσου: “drove her (ἑ) from all the island.” ἑ: fem. gen. sg. < οὗ.

    1139: ἡ δ᾿ ἄρα: “and she accordingly . . .” ἱερῷ ἐνὶ τηλόθεν ἄντρῳ: a typically complex Apollonian phrase: “in the distant sacred cave,” varying on ἄντρῳ ἐν ἠγαθέῳ (1131).

    1140: νάσσατο: aor. ind. mid. 3rd. sg. < ναίω: “she lived.” ὄλβον ἀθέσφατον: “boundless wealth.” Makris appears to be a beneficient “heroine’; see further (Mikalson 2011, 41).

    1141: ἔνθα τότ᾿: “it was here then . . .”, picking up the main narrative again. λέκτρον μέγα: “a great bed,” picking echoing Pind. P4.230–1.

    1142: For the Fleece as a luxurious bed-covering, see Pindar parallel (above). ὄφρα πέλοιτο: “so that (the marriage) might become.”

    1143: τιμήεις τε γάμος καὶ ἀοίδιμος: “(the marriage might become) honoured and a theme for song,” with possible references to the famous marriage of Peleus and Thetis and the lament of Helen at Il6.357–8ἄνθεα δέ σφιν: heralding the opening of a lyrical passage (Sapph. fr. 122 V. ἄνθε' ἀμέργοισαν παῖδ' ἄγαν ἀπάλαν): the nymphs gather “flowers for them.”

    1144: ἀμεργόμεναι: “gathering (flowers) of varied-hue (ποικίλα) in their white bosoms (λευκοῖς ἐνὶ . . . κόλποις). Colour and intricate word-order mark the description.

    1145: ἐσφόρεον: “they brought forth.” πάσας δέ: “them all . . .”, referring to the nymphs. The illuminating light of the fleece is a theme that spreads through the poem (Arg4.172–3).

    1146: ἀπὸ χρυσέων θυσάνων: “from the golden tassels / fringes.” ἀμαρύσσετο φέγγος: “the light twinkled . . .”. ἀμαρύσσω is often used of light and colour.

    1147: δαῖε: “it kindled . . .” The fleece takes on a life of its own. γλυκερὸν πόθον: intensifying the erotic atmosphere that it generates (Pind. P4.184­–5): “sweet desire.”

    1147–8: ἴσχε δʼ ἑκάστην / αἰδὼς: they long (ἱεμένην) to touch (ἐπὶ χεῖρα βαλέσθαι) the fleece yet are afraid (αἰδώς) to do so.

    1149: A catalogue of Nymphs begins (αἱ μέν ~ αἱ δʼ ~ αἱ δʼ). Αἰγαίου ποταμοῦ . . . θύγατρες: “the daughters of the river Aegaeus.” (Arg.4.542­–3).

    1150: ὄρεος κορυφὰς Μελιτηίου: “the heights of mount Melite.” The mountain is probably imaginary but Melite the naiad was adaughter of the river Aegaeus.

    1151: ἀλσηίδες: “nymphs of the grove;” see further (Larson 2001, 52).

    1152: Ἰήσονα κυδαίνουσα: Hera is Jason’s protector (4.784­–5) and, bearing in mind the present context, the goddess of Marriage (4.382).

    1153: κεῖνο καὶ εἰσέτι νῦν: “that (place) even today is called (κληίζεται) . . .”

    1154: τούς γε σὺν ἀλλήλοισιν ἔμειξαν: the Nymphs are seen as direct agents in the marriage: “(where) they caused them to have intercourse with each other (σὺν ἀλλήλοισιν).” ἔμειξαν: aor. ind. act. 3rd. pl. < μείγνυμι.

    1155: τεινάμεναι ἑανοὺς εὐώδεας: “spreading out fragrant bed-clothes.” οἱ δ᾿: switching to the Argonauts and a description of how they prepare to celebrate the forthcoming marriage.

    1156: δούρατα νωμήσαντες ἀρήια: a very war-like phrase: “brandishing their warlike spear” (Il5.594-Ares in action), in pointed contrast to 1158 (below). μὴ πρὶν: “lest before (the marriage ceremony is finished).” ἐς ἀλκὴν: “for battle” LSJ s.v. ἀλκή Aiii.

    1157: ἀίδηλος . . . ὅμιλος: “unexpected / destructive force,” LSJ s.v. ἀΐδηλος; see further (Hulse 2020), a disputed and much discussed word both now and in antiquity.

    1158: An elegant interlaced line (κράατα . . . ἐστεμμένοι ~ εὐφύλλοις . . . ἀκρεμόνεσσιν) typical of A. and Alexandrian poetry in general. κράατα is accusative of respect (neut. nom. pl. < κράς) with the participle ἐστεμμένοι (perf. part. masc. nom. pl. < στέφω). The image verges on the comical.

    1159: ἐμμελέως: adv. < ἐμμελής: tunefully. Ὀρφῆος . . . φορμίζοντος: Orpheus provides the musical accompaniment. ὑπαί: see LSJ s.v. ὑπό A5, “to the accompaniment of ”, the preposition governs the participle. These lines might be influenced by P.Oxy. 3698, which has been attributed to the Korinthiaka of Eumelos.

    1160: νυμφιδίαις . . . ἐπὶ προμολῇσιν: “at the approaches (entrance) to the bridal chamber.” ὑμέναιον . . . ἄειδον: “sang the marriage song.”

    1161: ἐν Ἀλκινόοιο: “in the house of Alcinous.” δώμασιν is understood, similarly with ἐνὶ πατρὸς ἑοῖο in the next line. μενέαινε: imperfect without augment. The statement that this marriage is a hasty and necessary (χρεὼ) affair contrasts sharply with the formal preparations described in the previous lines.

    1162: ἥρως Αἰσονίδης: Jason is often so described when the circumstances are not, in the least, heroic (2.4104.4771528.)

    1163: νοστήσας ἐς Ἰωλκὸν ὑπότροπος: “on his return home to Iolcus.” As close as A. gets to formulaic phraseology, perhaps echoing lines like Od. 1.290.

    1163–4: ὣς δὲ καὶ αὐτὴ / Μήδεια φρονέεσκε: “Medea thought the same.” Does this mean that she wanted a ‘proper’ marriage? Or that she also thought that they should ‘get a move on.’ At any rate, they are, for the moment, of one mind.

    1165: ἀλλὰ γὰρ οὔ ποτε: “for never in truth.” φῦλα δυηπαθέων ἀνθρώπων: “the tribes of suffering men.” The epic phrase is more usually φῦλα καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων (Hom. HymAphrod. 3) or the like; see further (Stocking 2017, 68). A’s use of the rare δυηπαθήςmakes the phrase more pointed.

    1166: τερπωλῆς ἐπέβημεν ὅλῳ ποδί: “tread the path of delight with a sure foot,” i.e. never be

    completely happy. παρμέμβλωκεν: perf. ind. act. 3rd. sg. < παραβλώσκω.

    1167: a fine four-word line. “Bitter pain (πικρὴ . . . ἀνίη) literally embraces pleasure (ἐυφροσύνῃσιν).

    1168­­–9: For Jason and Medea desire (γλυκερῇ . . . φιλότητι) and fear (δεῖμ᾿) are co-existent at the approaching decision (διάκρισις) to be made (τελέοιτο: fut. opt. mid. 3rd. sg. < τελέω) by Alcinous.

    Bibliography

    Burkert, Walter. 1983. Homo Necans: The Anthropology of Ancient Greek Sacrificial Ritual and Myth. University of California Press.

    Clauss, J. 1993. The Best of the Argonauts: The Redefinition of the Epic Hero in Book 1 of Apollonius’s Argonautica. University of California Press.

    Hulse, Peter. 2020. “MEDEA AIΔHΛOΣ?: Two Notes on Book 4 of the Argonautica of Apollonius Rhodius.” Mnemosyne 73 (2): 321–26. https://doi.org/10.1163/1568525X-12342740.

    Larson, J.L. 2001. Greek Nymphs: Myth, Cult, Lore. Oxford University Press.

    Mikalson, Jon D. 2011. Ancient Greek Religion. Oxford: John Wiley & Sons.

    Oakley, John Howard, and Rebecca H. Sinos. 1993. The Wedding in Ancient Athens. Univ of Wisconsin Press.

    Stocking, Charles H. 2017. The Politics of Sacrifice in Early Greek Myth and Poetry. Cambridge University Press.

    ἐπισχεδόν, at once

     εὐνάζω, to lay

     ὕπνος -ου ὁ, sleep

    θυμός -οῦ ὁ, heart, spirit

     πυκινός, wise

     βάλλω βαλῶ ἔβαλον, store up

     αὐτίκα, immediately, straightway, at once; presently

    ὄρνυμι, arouse, stir up

    λέχος, a couch, bed

    δῶμα -ατος τό, house

     συναΐσσω, hasten together

    γυνή γυναικός ἡ, woman

     ἀμφίπολος -ον, attendant, handmaid

     δέσποινα -ησ ἡ, mistress, lady

     ἑός ἑή ἑόν, his, her, own

    ποιπνύω, to bustle

     σῖγα, silently

    κῆρυξ -υκος ὁ, messenger

     καλέω καλῶ ἐκάλεσα κέκληκα κέκλημαι ἐκλήθην, call

    ἐπιφροσύνη, thoughtfulness, wisdom, prudence

     ἐποτρύνω, to stir up, excite, urge on

     μίγνυμι, μείξω, ἔμειξα, μέμειγμαι, ἐμείχθην, to have intercourse with

     βασιλεύς βασιλέως ὁ, king

     λίσσομαι, pray, beseech with prayer

    δικάζω δικάσω ἐδίκασα δεδίκακα δεδίκασμαι ἐδικάσθην, to judge, decree

    δῶμα -ατος τό, house

    ἐκδίδωμι ἐκδώσω ἐκέδωκε ἐκδέδωκα ἐκδέδομαι ἐκεδόθην, surrender

     λέκτρον, a couch, bed

    πορσύνω, to share

    κουρίδιος, wedded

    ἀποτμήγω, to cut off from

     φιλότης -ητος, love, friendship

    φέρω οἴσω ἤνεγκα, bear, carry

    μέγαρον -ου τό, hall

    ἐναίσιμος, favourable, boding well

     ἀγγέλλω, ἀγγελῶ, ἤγγειλα, announce

    βουλή -ῆς ἡ, advice, will; council

    θεουδής, god-respecting

    εὑρίσκω εὑρήσω εὗρον, find, discover

    ἔντεα, fighting gear, arms, armour

     ἐγρήσσω, to be awake

     Ὑλλικός, ά, όν, Connected with Hyllus, the son of Heracles

    λιμήν -ένος ὁ, harbour

     σχεδόν, near, almost

     ἄστυ ἄστεως τό, town

    φράζω φράσω ἔφρασα, point out, show, advise, design

     ἀγγελίη, a message, tidings, news

     γηθέω, to rejoice

    ἥρως ἥρωος ὁ, hero, warrior

     ἁνδάνω, to please, delight, gratify

    κρατήρ, a mixing vessel

     κεράννυμι, to mix, mingle

     μακάριος -α -ον, blessed, happy 

    εὐαγέως, reverently

    ἐπιβώμιος, on or at the altar

     μῆλον -ου τό, sheep

     ἐρύω, draw, drag off

     αὐτονυχί, that very night

    θαλαμήϊος, bridal

     ἐντύνω, to equip, deck out, get ready

     εὐνή, bed, couch

     ἄντρον, a cave, grot, cavern

    ἠγάθεος, very divine, most holy

     τόθι, there, in that place

    Μάκρις, ἡ, Makris (name)

     ναίω, dwell, inhabit, be situated

    Ἀρισταῖος, Aristaeus

     περίφρων -ον, very thoughtful or prudent

    μέλισσα, a bee

     ἔργον -ου τό, work, deed

     πολύκμητος, much-wrought, wrought with much toil

    ἀνευρίσκω, to find out, make out, discover

     πῖαρ, richness

     ἐλαίη, olive - tree

    πάμπρωτος, first of all, the very first

    Νυσαῖος, of Nysa

     υἱός -οῦ ὁ, son

     Εὔβοια -ας ἡ, Euboea

     ἔντοσθε, from within

     Ἀβαντίς -ίδος, Abantian

    κόλπος -ου ὁ, bosom

     δέχομαι δέξομαι ἐδεξάμην --- δέδεγμαι -εδέχθην, receive, take

    μέλι, honey

     ξηρός, dry

    χεῖλος, lip

     δεύω, to smear, wet, drench

     εῦτε, when, after

    Ἑρμῆς -οῦ ὁ, Hermes, herm

    δέρκομαι, to see clearly, see

    χολόω, to make angry, provoke

    ἐξελαύνω ἐξελῶ ἐξήλασα, to drive out from

    ἱερός -ᾶ -ον, holy

    τηλόθεν, far away

     ἄντρον, a cave, grot, cavern

     ναίω, dwell, inhabit, be situated

    πόρω, give

     ὅλβος -ου ὁ , happiness, bliss; prosperity

     ἀθέσφατος, boundless

     ἐνναέτης, inhabitants

     ἔνθα, there

     τότε, at that time, then next

     στορέννυμι, to spread

     λέκτρον, a couch, bed

    ὕπερθεν, above, over

    αἰγλήεις, dazzling, radiant, lustrous

     κῶας, a fleece

     βάλλω βαλῶ ἔβαλον, spread

     ὄφρα, so that

     πέλω, to be

     τιμήεις, honoured, esteemed

    γάμος -ου ὁ, marriage, wedding

    ἀοίδιμος, sung of, famous in song

     ἄνθος -ους τό, flower

    νύμφη, a nymph

     ἀμέργω, to pluck

     λευκός -ή -όν, white; light, bright

    ποικίλος -η -ον, many coloured

     κόλπος -ου ὁ, womb, bay

     εἰσφέρω εἰσοίσω, bring, carry

    ἀμφιέπω, to go about, be all round, encompass

     αἴγλη, the light of the sun, radiance

     τοῖος -α -ον, quality, such, such-like

    χρυσοῦς -ῆ -οῦν, golden, gold-inlaid

     θύσανος, a tassel, frings

     ἀμαρύσσω, to sparkle, glance

     φέγγος, light, splendour, lustre

     δαίω, to light up, make to burn, kindle

    ὀφθαλμός -οῦ ὁ, the eye

     γλυκερός, ά, όν, sweet

     πόθος, a longing, yearning, fond desire

     ἴσχω, hold

    αἰδώς αἰδοῦς ἡ, shame, awe

     ἵημι ἥσω ἧκα, desire

    Αἰγαῖος, Aegaean

     ποταμός -οῦ ὁ, river, stream

     καλέω καλῶ ἐκάλεσα, call

     θυγάτηρ θυγατρός ἡ, daughter

    ὄρος ὄρους τό, mountain, hill

     κορυφή, the head, top, highest point;

     Μελιτηίος, ά, όν, Meliteian

     ἀμφινέμομαι, to dwell around

    πεδίον -ου τό, plain

     ἀλσηΐς, of the grove

     ὄρνυμι, arouse, stir up

    ἄκοιτις, a spouse, wife

    κυδαίνω, to give honour to

    κλῄζω, to call

     ἄντρον, a cave, grot, cavern

     Μήδειος, of Medea

    ἀλλήλων -οις, each other

     μίγνυμι, μείξω, ἔμειξα, to have intercourse

     τείνω τενῶ ἔτεινα, stretch, spread

     ἑανός, fit for wearing

     εὐώδης, sweet-smelling, fragrant

    δόρυ δόρατος τό, spear

     νωμάω, hold

     ἀρήϊος, warlike

    ἀλκή -ής ἡ, battle

     δυσμενής, full of ill-will, hostile

     ἀΐδηλος, unexpected

     ἐπιβρίθω, to fall heavy upon, fall heavily

     ὅμιλος -ου ὁ, host, army

     κράς, the head

    εὔφυλλος, well-leafed

     στέφω, to put round

     ἀκρέμων, a branch, twig, spray

     ἐμμελής, sounding in unison, in tune

     Ὀρφεύς, Orpheus

     ὑπαί, under, to the accompaniment of

     λίγα, in loud clear tone

     φορμίζω, to play the φόρμιγξ

     νυμφίδιος, of a bride, bridal

     ὑμέναιος, hymenaeus, the wedding or bridal song

    προμολή, an approach

    ἀείδω, sing

    γάμος -ου ὁ, marriage, wedding

     μενεαίνω, to desire earnestly

     τελέω τελέσω ἐτέλεσα, fulfil, accomplish

    νοστέω , return home

    Ἰωλκός, Iolcus (modern Volos)

     ὑπότροπος, returning

    φρονέω φρονήσω ἐφρόνησα, be minded, think

    χρεώ, want, need, to be necessary

     ἄγω ἄξω ἤγαγον, drive, lead, force

    φῦλον, a race, tribe, class

     δυηπαθής, much-suffering

     ἄνθρωπος -ου ὁ/ἡ, human being

     τερπωλή, enjoyment, delight

     ἐπιβαίνω ἐπιβήσομαι ἐπέβην, tread on,

     ὅλος, η, ον, whole, sure

    αἰέν αἰεί αἰέν, always, ever

     πικρός -ά -όν, pointed, sharp; pungent bitter

     παραβλώσκω, to go beside

     ἐυφροσύνη, mirth, gladness.

     ἀνίη, torment, vexation

     γλυκύς γλυκεῖα γλυκύ, sweet, pleasant

    ἰαίνω, to heat

     φιλότης -ητος, love, friendship

     δεῖμα, fear, affright

    τελέω τελέσω ἐτέλεσα, accomplish

     διάκρισις, decision

    article nav

    Suggested Citation

    Peter Hulse. Apollonius: Argonautica Book IV. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2024. ISBN: 978-1-947822-21-4. https://dcc.dickinson.edu/apollonius-argonautica/argonautica-iv-1108-1167