Argonautica IV 1483-1534

Κάνθε, σὲ δ᾽ οὐλόμεναι Λιβύῃ ἔνι Κῆρες ἕλοντο.1485

πώεσι φερβομένοισι συνήντεες: εἵπετο δ᾽ ἀνὴρ

αὐλίτης, ὅ σ᾽ ἑῶν μήλων πέρι, τόφρ᾽ ἑτάροισιν

δευομένοις κομίσειας, ἀλεξόμενος κατέπεφνεν

λᾶι βαλών: ἐπεὶ οὐ μὲν ἀφαυρότερός γ᾽ ἐτέτυκτο,

νἱωνὸς Φοίβοιο Λυκωρείοιο Κάφαυρος1490

κούρης τ᾽ αἰδοίης Ἀκακαλλίδος, ἥν ποτε Μίνως

ἐς Αιβύην ἀπένασσε θεοῦ βαρὺ κῦμα φέρουσαν,

θυγατέρα σφετέρην: ἡ δ᾽ ἀγλαὸν υἱέα Φοίβῳ

τίκτεν, ὃν Ἀμφίθεμιν Γαράμαντά τε κικλήσκουσιν.

Ἀμφίθεμις δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔπειτα μίγη Τριτωνίδι νύμφῃ:1495

ἡ δ᾽ ἄρα οἱ Νασάμωνα τέκεν κρατερόν τε Κάφαυρον,

ὃς τότε Κάνθον ἔπεφνεν ἐπὶ ῥήνεσσιν ἑοῖσιν.

οὐδ᾽ ὅγ᾽ ἀριστήων χαλεπὰς ἠλεύατο χεῖρας,

ὡς μάθον οἷον ἔρεξε. νέκυν δ᾽ ἀνάειραν ὀπίσσω

πευθόμενοι Μινύαι, γαίῃ δ᾽ ἐνὶ ταρχύσαντο1500

μυρόμενοι: τὰ δὲ μῆλα μετὰ σφέας οἵγ᾽ ἐκόμισσαν.

ἔνθα καὶ Ἀμπυκίδην αὐτῷ ἐνὶ ἤματι Μόψον

νηλειὴς ἕλε πότμος: ἀδευκέα δ᾽ οὐ φύγεν αἶσαν

μαντοσύναις: οὐ γάρ τις ἀποτροπίη θανάτοιο.

κεῖτο δ᾽ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοισι μεσημβρινὸν ἦμαρ ἀλύσκων1505

δεινὸς ὄφις, νωθὴς μὲν ἑκὼν ἀέκοντα χαλέψαι:

οὐδ᾽ ἂν ὑποτρέσσαντος ἐνωπαδὶς ἀίξειεν.

ἀλλὰ μὲν ᾧ τὰ πρῶτα μελάγχιμον ἰὸν ἐνείη

ζωόντων, ὅσα γαῖα φερέσβιος ἔμπνοα βόσκει,

οὐδ᾽ ὁπόσον πήχυιον ἐς Ἄιδα γίγνεται οἶμος,1510

οὐδ᾽ εἰ Παιήων, εἴ μοι θέμις ἀμφαδὸν εἰπεῖν,

φαρμάσσοι, ὅτε μοῦνον ἐνιχρίμψῃσιν ὀδοῦσιν.

εὖτε γὰρ ἰσόθεος Λιβύην ὑπερέπτατο Περσεὺς

Εὐρυμέδων--καὶ γὰρ τὸ κάλεσκέ μιν οὔνομα μήτηρ--

Γοργόνος ἀρτίτομον κεφαλὴν βασιλῆι κομίζων,1515

ὅσσαι κυανέου στάγες αἵματος οὖδας ἵκοντο,

αἱ πᾶσαι κείνων ὀφίων γένος ἐβλάστησαν.

τῷ δ᾽ ἄκρην ἐπ᾽ ἄκανθαν ἐνεστηρίξατο Μόψος

λαιὸν ἐπιπροφέρων ταρσὸν ποδός: αὐτὰρ ὁ μέσσην

κερκίδα καὶ μυῶνα, πέριξ ὀδύνῃσιν ἑλιχθείς,1520

σάρκα δακὼν ἐχάραξεν. ἀτὰρ Μήδεια καὶ ἄλλαι

ἔτρεσαν ἀμφίπολοι: ὁ δὲ φοίνιον ἕλκος ἄφασσεν

θαρσαλέως, ἕνεκ᾽ οὔ μιν ὑπέρβιον ἄλγος ἔτειρεν.

σχέτλιος: ἦ τέ οἱ ἤδη ὑπὸ χροῒ δύετο κῶμα

λυσιμελές, πολλὴ δὲ κατ᾽ ὀφθαλμῶν χέετ᾽ ἀχλύς.1525

αὐτίκα δὲ κλίνας δαπέδῳ βεβαρηότα γυῖα

ψύχετ᾽ ἀμηχανίῃ: ἕταροι δέ μιν ἀμφαγέροντο

ἥρως τ᾽ Αἰσονίδης, ἀδινῇ περιθαμβέες ἄτῃ.

οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ τυτθὸν ἀποφθίμενός περ ἔμελλεν

κεῖσθαι ὑπ᾽ ἠελίῳ. πύθεσκε γὰρ ἔνδοθι σάρκας1530

ἰὸς ἄφαρ, μυδόωσα δ᾽ ἀπὸ χροὸς ἔρρεε λάχνη.

αἶψα δὲ χαλκείῃσι βαθὺν τάφον ἐξελάχαινον

ἐσσυμένως μακέλῃσιν: ἐμοιρήσαντο δὲ χαίτας

αὐτοὶ ὁμῶς κοῦραί τε, νέκυν ἐλεεινὰ παθόντα

μυρόμενοι: τρὶς δ᾽ ἀμφὶ σὺν ἔντεσι δινηθέντες1535

εὖ κτερέων ἴσχοντα, χυτὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἔθεντο.

The Deaths of Mopsus and Kanthus:

In a manner that is typical of the Argonautica, Apollonius gives his narrative an unexpected turn by dramatising the deaths of two minor members of the crew, one of them the insignificant Kanthus, and the other, the seer Mopsus, both of whose fates were predestined at 1.82-5. Kanthus is killed during an episode connected with the rustling of livestock, a common occurrence in the epic world, while Mopsus succumbs to one of the natural hazards of Libya, that is, a bite from a poisonous snake.

1485  Κάνθε: the poet addresses his character in direct apostrophe. The Argonauts have been previously addressed as a group before (1383-7) and will be afterwards (1773-81) but this is the only example of an appeal to a single character; see further (Klooster 2013, 161). The opening statement is simple and direct and thus emphasises the emotion of the moment. Κῆρες: the Keres or “Fates of Death”; see further Hulse (2021,4 n.19).

1486  συνήντεες: “you chanced upon”: imperf. ind. act. 2nd. sg. (attic, epic, ionic) < συναντάω.

1486-7  ἀνὴρ / αὐλίτης: “a shepherd, lit. a man of the sheepfold.” The earlier of the two great wars of Greek mythology, the Theban was fought according to Hesiod (Op. 163) μήλων ἕνεκ᾽ Οἰδιπόδαο.

1487  σ᾿ ἑῶν μήλων πέρι: using antistrophe (πέρι) to help bind the phrase together: “about his own sheep.” ἑῶν: masc. gen. pl. < ἑός (his, her own).

1487-8  τόφρ(α): “while” is used here as temporal conjunction: “while you were bringing them to your needy (ἑτάροισιν δευομένοις) companions.” The optative stresses Kanthos’ future intention, even though the action described is in the past. ἀλεξόμενος κατέπεφνεν: “in defence (of his sheep) slew you.” ἀλεξόμενος: fut. part. mid. masc. nom. sg. < ἀλέξω. Kaphauros threw the stone to defend his sheep.

1489  λᾶι βαλών: “hitting (you) with a stone.” μέν: is emphatic, “(not) at all.” ἀφαυρότερός: Hector is also hit be a stone, thrown in battle at Il15.11, where A. may possibly have seen a text that read the comparative of the adjective (ἀφαυρότερός), the meaning of which is disputed, generally “feeble, powerless”, but here it may refer to the status of his birth (see the following lines).

1490  υἱωνός: “the grandson of Lycoreian Phoebus.” A. seems to be playing on ἀφαυρότερός ~ Κάφαυρος.

1491  κούρης τ᾿ αἰδοίης Ἀκακαλλίδος: “and of the chaste Akakallis.”

1492  ἀπένασσε: recalling Il. 16.86 περικαλλέα κούρην ἂψ ἀπονάσσωσιν: “removed to, settled in.” βαρὺ κῦμα φέρουσαν: “heavily pregnant.”

1494  Ἀμφίθεμιν Γαράμαντά: “they call the child Amthemis (and) Garamas.” He has a Greek and native name (Garamantes).

1495  Τριτωνίδι νύμφῃ: “with a Tritonian nymph”, another Greek Libyan link.

1496: Νασάμωναeponymous hero of the Nasamones; see further (‘The Nasamones of Awjila - Livius’ 2006).

1497  ἐπὶ ῥήνεσσιν ἑοῖσιν: “in defending his sheep” < ῥήν (not found in nom.) only here and at Nicander Th. 453, perhaps formed < πολύρρην.

1498  οὐδ᾿ . . . ἠλεύατο: “nor did he avoid.” ὅ γ᾿: i.e. Kathauros.

1499  ὡς μάθον οἷον ἔρεξε: “when they learned what he had done.” ἀνάειραν: “they lifted up”: aor. ind. act. 3rd. pl. (epic, doric, ionic, aeolic) < ἀναείρω. The description of the incident is written in A.’s more laconic style.

1500: †πυθόμενοι†: read πευθόμενοι and understand the sense to be (with Rieu): “when they heard of the outrage (ὡς μάθον οἷον ἔρεξε; see above), they dealt with him (1498), they found the body (πευθόμενοι) and brought it back to the camp (νέκυν δ᾿ ἀνάειραν ὀπίσσω).” The transmitted text, under this interpretation is not “weak and repetitive. There have been other attempts at emendation (πυθόμενον, “decomposing”, κευθόμενον, “hidden, buried”), neither of which entirely convince. A. reserves more elaborate description for the death of Mopsus, who is of higher status among the Argonauts. Also the simplicity of the style adds more point to the ironical remark in 1501. γαίῃ δ᾿ ἐνὶ ταρχύσαντο: Kanthos is given a burial typical of a Homeric hero: Il16.456.

1501  μυρόμενοι: the Iliadic flavour continues: Il19.6τὰ δὲ μῆλα: “Not enough attention has been paid to the splendid deadpan humour of 1501, where genuine tragedy is at one quick stroke subverted by the practical demands of rounding up meat on the hoof” (Green ad loc.).

1502  Ἀμπυκίδην . . . Μόψον: the death of Mopsus is described much more elaborately, with a degree of Gothic and almost clinical detail.

1503: ἀδευκέα . . . αἶσαν: Hom. only in Od., ὀλέθρῳ ἀδευκέϊ 4.489; 10.245 ἀδευκέα πότμον; 6.273 φῆμιν ἀδευκέα.

1504: prophecy and the (non) avoidance of death is another familiar Homeric motif: Il2.832. Prophecy also failed to save Idmon.

1505: μεσημβρινὸν ἦμαρ ἀλύσκων: “avoiding the midday sun.” The belief persists in rural Greece to this day that midday is “the dangerous hour” (η κακη ώρα).

1506  δεινὸς ὄφις: enter “a fearsome snake”! νωθὴς . . . χαλέψαι: “(too) sluggish to attack.” ἑκὼν ἀέκοντα: = “unless provoked.” The present specimen (as so often) seems to be something of a mixture: it is a sand burrower (άμμοδύτης: Strabo 17.1.21, C. 803), and in many respects (Vian 1981, 200) resembles Nicander's description (161–66187–88) of the Egyptian cobra (ἄσπις), with its sluggishness, its rearing and writhing, and its numbing, incurable, but relatively painless bite (Arist. HA 607a22). But there are differences: A.'s serpent, unlike the cobra, does not attack unless provoked, and the corrosive force attributed to its venom (1529–31) seems to have been more characteristic of the seps (σήψ probably the desert horned viper or Egyptian asp: cf. Nik. Ther. 327–31; Ael. NA 15.1816.40; Luc. Bell. Civ9.723762–88.

1507  ὑποτρέσσαντος: genitive absolute or gen. after a verb of touching (Goodell 510a). οὐδ᾿ ἂν . . . ἐνωπαδὶς ἀίξειεν: “would not dash at anyone who shrank away.”

1508: ἀλλὰ μὲν ᾧ τὰ πρῶτα: “but into whatever at first”, depending on ζωόντων (“of living things”) in the next line. ἐνείη: aor. opt. act. 3rd. sg. <ἐνίημι.

1509: ὅσα γαῖα φερέσβιος: “as many as the fruitful earth”, (1509-12) imitated by Euphorion fr. 50 Powell (= 70 Lightfoot ,= LIV Meineke; see further (Meineke 1843, 96)) to describe the effect of the Lernaean Hydra’s poison.

1510  οὐδ᾿ ὁπόσον πήχυιον: “death is only a cubit away”, also perhaps referring to the length of the snake. The feminine caesura (and the position of πήχυιον) give the line an unexpected rhythm that emphasises the unusual comparison.

1511-2  οὐδ᾿ εἰ Παιήων / . . . φαρμάσσοι: “not even if Paeëon were to apply drugs.” εἴ μοι θέμις ἀμφαδὸν εἰπεῖν: “if it is right for me to say this openly”, the same kind of mock solemnity that the poet declares at 250(n.): he might be referring to Apollo (see link) but he adds a note of mystery to the moment.

1512  ἐνιχρίμψῃσιν ὀδοῦσιν: “even if the fangs have only grazed the skin”, perhaps better than “bite, attack.”

1513  ἰσόθεος . . . Περσεύς: “Perseus, equal to the gods.” Λιβύην ὑπερέπτατο: “flew over Libya.” Perseus was perhaps associated with Chemmis in Egypt.

1514  Εὐρυμέδων: Perseus has two names. The reason why his mother gave him this second name (καὶ γὰρ τὸ κάλεσκέ μιν οὔνομα μήτηρ) might have been told in Apollonius’ poem “The foundation of Alexandria”; see further (Barbantani 2014).

1515  βασιλῆιPolydectes of Seriphos.

1516  κυανέου στάγες αἵματος: “drops of dark blood.”

1517  αἱ πᾶσαι: to be taken with ὅσσαι in the previous line: “as many as . . . all of them (κείνων).” ἐβλάστησαν: “brought forth.”

1518  τῷ δ᾿ ἄκρην ἐπ᾿ ἄκανθαν: lit. “on the end of the spine (belonging) to it.” ἐνεστηρίξατο: “pressed down on.”

1519  ἐπιπροφέρων: “pressing forward.” λαιὸν . . . ταρσὸν ποδός: “the left sole of his foot.”

1520  κερκίδα καὶ μυῶνα: “squarely (= μέσσην) between the lower leg and the calf muscle.” πέριξ ὀδύνῃσιν ἑλιχθείς: “writhing around (πέριξ used adverbially) in pain.”

1521  σάρκα δακών: “biting the flesh (in apposition to μέσσην / κερκίδα καὶ μυῶνα).” ἐχάραξεν: “he tore the flesh.” ἀτὰρ Μήδεια: Medea and her maids flee in terror. Perhaps with her knowledge of drugs and poisons, M. immediately understands what has happened.

1522   δέ: Mopsus, on the other hand, does not panic and examines his gory wound (φοίνιον ἕλκος). The coma only comes upon him gradually.

1523  θαρσαλέως: “bravely / calmly.” 

1524  σχέτλιος: “poor wretch”, an exclamation often used when a victim is unaware of the consequences of an action. In Homer and Herodotus it denotes cruelty or, occasionally, inhuman courage; in tragedy “cruel” is again the usual sense, but ‘miserable’ is attested in Prometheus Vinctus (Aesch. PV. 644) and Euripides (Eur. Hec. 783).  τέ: the first particle strengthens the assertion that A. is about to make. The second acts as a connective. ἤδη: again emphasising the immediacy of the moment. κῶμα: Mopsus is losing consciousness: Nic. Ther. 188-9 “the man dies without distress, and a sleepy lethargy brings on the end of his life.”

1525  Il5.696 “of a mist over the eyes, as of one dying”: κατὰ δʼ ὀφθαλμῶν κέχυτʼ ἀ.

1526-7  Nic. Ther. 247-55. βεβαρηότα γυῖα: perf. part. act. neut. acc. pl. (epic) < βαρέω: “heavy / weighed-down limbs.”

1527-8  ψύχετ᾿ ἀμηχανίῃ: “grew cold in powerlessness.” ἀμφαγέροντο: “gathered round.” Jason and the rest of the Argonauts are astounded (περιθαμβέες) at the very terrible fate (ἀδινῇ . . . ἄτῃ) that their comrade has suffered.

1529  οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδ᾿ ἐπὶ τυτθόν: a very strong expression: “not even for a short space of time.” ἀποφθίμενός: “after his death.”

1530  κεῖσθαι ὑπ᾿ ἠελίῳ: “to lie under the sun.” The corrupting effect of some snake venom on flesh, bone, and tissue is widely documented in our ancient sources: beside Nic. Ther. 327–31 and Ael. NA 15.18, 16.40 (cited above on 1506), see Nonn. D4.354–55; and Lucan, in particular: (Bell. Civ9.762–87, 770–76); see further (Green 1997, 350–51). πύθεσκε: “began to rot.” ἔνδοθι σάρκας: “his flesh within.” The venom is thought of as breaking down the body tissue.

1531  ἰὸς ἄφαρ: “immediately the poison.” μυδόωσα δ᾿ ἀπὸ χροὸς ἔρρεε λάχνη: “the hair grew moist and dropped away from the flesh (ἀπὸ χροός), perhaps recalling the grotesque description of Thersites at Il2.219.

1532  χαλκείῃσι: agrees with μακέλῃσιν: “with bronze mattocks.” Ap. models his funeral scene on Homer's treatment of the funeral of Patroklos (Il23.250 ff.), and repeats it, with necessary variations, at 1.1063-652.835–44.

1533  ἐμοιρήσαντο δὲ χαίτας: lit. “they shared their hair,” i.e. they tore their hair; see further 27-9n.

1534  ἐλεεινὰ παθόντα: “who had suffered piteously.” ἐλεεινάacc. plur. used as an adverb.

1535  (Burkert 1985, 192–94) for a discussion of such practices as raising a barrow and cutting off locks of hair (paralleled at Il. 23.135–36; see on 1532). On the triple circling of the grave, see Il. 23.13, and Virg. Aen11.188–89; also 75-6n.

1536  εὖ κτερέων ἴσχοντα: “(the body) which received a proper share of funeral honours.” χυτὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἔθεντο: “placed heaped earth on (it),” only in phrase χυτὴ γαῖα a mound of earth, esp. a sepulchral mound, like χῶμα, Il6.46414.114Od3.258.

Bibliography:

Hulse, P. 2021. Medea’s Passion and Rhetoric: Two notes on P.Oxy. 5428. ZPE.

Barbantani, Silvia. 2014. ‘Mother of Snakes and Kings. Apollonius Rhodius’ Foundation of Alexandria.’ 2014 (8): 209–45. https://publicatt.unicatt.it/handle/10807/58932#.XNBi5S-ZOX0.

Burkert, W. 1985. ‘Greek Religion: Archaic and Classical Transl’. J. Raffan.

Green, P. 1997. The Argonautika by Apollonios Rhodios Translated with Introduction, Commentary and Glossary. Berkeley.

Klooster, Jacqueline. 2013. Apostrophe in Homer, Apollonius and CallimachusÜber die Grenze. De Gruyter. https://www.degruyter.com/view/book/9783110331721/10.1515/9783110331721….

Meineke, A. 1843. Analecta Alexandrina: Sive Commentationes de Euphorione Chalcidensi, Rhiano Cretensi, Alexandro Aetolo. Parthenio Nicaeno (Berlin.

‘The Nasamones of Awjila - Livius’. 2006. 2006. https://www.livius.org/articles/place/nasamones/.

Κανθός, ὁ, Kanthos 

οὐλόμενος, η, ον, destructive, baneful

Λιβύη, ἡ, Libya, the north part of Africa

Κήρ, -ηρός, ἡ, doom, death, fate

αἱρέω, αἱρήσω, εἷλον, ᾕρηκα, ᾕρημαι, ᾑρέθην, take

πῶυ, -εος, τό, a flock

φέρβω, to feed, nourish

συναντάω, to encounter

ἕπομαι, ἕψομαι, ἑσπόμην, --- --- ---, to follow

αὐλίτης, -ου, ὁ, shepherd

μῆλον, -ου, τό, sheep or goat

δεύω, to need

κομίζω, κομιῶ, ἐκόμισα, κεκόμικα, κεκόμισμαι, ἐκομίσθην, bring

ἀλέξω, to ward off

κατέπεφνον, aor. 2 with no pres. in use, to kill, slay

λᾶας, -λᾶος, ὁ, stone

ἀφαυρός, ά, όν, feeble, powerless

τεύχω, τεύξω, ἔτευξα, τέτευχα, τέτυγμαι, ἐτύχθην, to be (see notes)

υἱωνός, ὁ, a grandson

Λυκώρειος, α, ον, of Lycoreia 

Κάφαυρος, -ου, ὁ, Caphauros

αἰδοῖος, α, ον, regarded with reverence, august, venerable

Ἀκακαλλίς, -ίδος, ἡ, Akakallis

Μίνως, ὁ, Minos

ἀποναίω, to remove, to send away

βαρύς, -εῖα, -ύ, heavy

κῦμα, -ατος, τό, wave

σφέτερος, α, ον, his

ἀγλαός, splendid, shining, bright, beautiful

υἱός, -οῦ ὁ, son

τίκτω, τέξομαι, ἔτεκον, τέτοκα, --- ---, bear

Ἀμφίθεμις, -ιδος, ὁ, Amphithemis

Γᾰράμας, -αντος, ὁ, Garamas

κικλήσκω, to call, summon

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

Τρῑτωνίς, ίδος, ἡ, Tritonis

νύμφη, ἡ, a young wife, bride

Νασάμων, -ωνος, ὁ, Nasamon (name)

τίκτω, τέξομαι, ἔτεκον, τέτοκα, --- ---, beget, bear

κρᾰτερός, ά, όν, strong, powerful, mighty

θείνω, to strike, wound (see notes)

ῥήν, ἡ, sheep

χαλεπός -ή -όν, harsh, avenging

ἀλέομαι, to avoid, shun

μανθάνω μαθήσομαι ἔμαθον μεμάθηκα --- ---, learn, understand

ῥέζω, do, accomplish

νέκυς, -υος, τό, dead body, corpse

ἀναείρω, to lift up

ὀπίσσω, back

πεύθομαι, to know, perceive (see notes)

Μινύαι, the Minyans

ταρχύω, to bury solemnly

μύρομαι, to weep, bewail

μῆλον,-ου,τό, sheep or goat

σφεῖς, they

κομίζω κομιῶ ἐκόμισα κεκόμικα κεκόμισμαι ἐκομίσθην, carry off, take care of

Ἀμπυκίδης, son of Ampycus

Μόψος Mopsus

νηλειής pitiless, ruthless

πότμος, fate, destiny

ἀδευκής, bitter, cruel, unexpected

φεύγω φεύξομαι ἔφυγον πέφευγα --- ---, flee

αἶσα, doom, fate

μαντοσύνη, ἡ, the art of prophecy, divination

ἀποτροπίηturning away, avoidance

κεῖμαι κείσομαι --- --- --- ---, lie, be laid down; lie sick

ψάμαθος, sand

μεσημβρινός, belonging to noon

ἀλύσκω, to flee from, shun, avoid, forsake

δεινός -ή -όν, awesome, terrible

ὄφις, a serpent, snake

νωθής, sluggish, slothful, torpid

ἑκών -οῦσα -όν willingly

ἀέκων -ουσα -ον, unwillingly

χαλέπτω, to strike

ὑποτρέω, to shrink back, give ground

ἐνωπαδὶς, in one’s face

ἀίσσω --- ἤῑξα ἀίξασκον --- ἠίχθην, dart

πρότερος -α -ον, before, in front, earlier

μελάγχιμος, black, dark

ἰός, an arrow

ἐνίημι, to send in

ζῶ, live

ὅσος -η -ον, how great/long as great/long as

γαῖα -ας ἡ, earth

φερέσβιος, life-giving

ἔμπνοος with the breath in one, alive

βόσκω to feed, tend

ὁπόσος -η -ον as many as, as great as

πήχυιος, cubit (in length)

ᾍδης, Hades

γίγνομαι γενήσομαι ἐγενόμην γέγονα γεγένομαι ---be born, become, happen

οἶμος, a way, road, path

Παιάν, Paean

θέμις, that which is right

ἀμφαδόν publicly, openly, without disguise

εἶπον, aor. for λέγω and φημί, said (aor. for λέγω)

φαρμάσσω, to treat by using drugs

ὅτε, when

μόνος -η -ον, alone, solitary

ἐγχρίμπτω, to bring near to, graze

ὀδούς -οντος ὁ,tooth

εὖτε, when, at the time when

ἰσόθεος, equal to the gods, godlike

ὑπερπέτομαι, to fly over

Περσεύς, Perseus

Εὐρυμέδων, Eurymedon

καλέω καλῶ ἐκάλεσα κέκληκα κέκλημαι ἐκλήθην call

ὄνομα -ατος τό, name, reputation

ἀρτίτομος, just cut

κεφαλή -ῆς ἡ, head

βασιλεύς βασιλέως ὁ, king

κομίζω κομιῶ ἐκόμισα κεκόμικα κεκόμισμαι ἐκομίσθην, carry, take care of

ὅσος -η -ον, how great/long as great/long as

κυάνεος, dark-blue, glossy-blue

σταγών, a drop

αἷμα, -ατος τό, blood

οὖδας, the surface of the earth, the ground, earth

ἱκνέομαι, ἵξομαι, ἱκόμην, --- ἷγμαι --- come

ὄφις, a serpent, snake

γένος, -ους, τό, birth, offspring; race

βλαστάω, bring forth

ἄκρα, tip, a headland, foreland, cape

ἄκανθα a thorn, prickle

ἐνστηρίζω, to fix in

Μόψος, Mopsus

λαιός, left

ἐπιπροφέρω, move on forwards

ταρσός a wickerwork basket, frame, mat

πούς ποδός ὁ, foot

ἀτάρ, but, yet

μέσος -η -ον, middle, in the middle

κερκίς, the lower leg, tibia

μυών, calf muscle

πέριξ, round about, all round

ὀδύνη, pain of body

ἑλίσσω, to turn round, to turn

σάρξ, flesh

δάκνω δήξομαι ἔδακον δέδηγμαι ἐδήχθην bite; sting

χαράσσω, to tear, bite

ἀτάρ, but, yet

Μήδεια Medea

ἄλλος ἄλλη ἄλλο, other, another

τρέω --- ἔτρεσα, flee from fear

ἀμφίπολος -ον, female attendant, handmaid

φοίνιος, bloody, blood-stained, murderous

ἕλκος, a wound

ἀφάσσω, to handle, feel

θαρσαλέος, bold, of good courage, ready, daring, undaunted

ὑπέρβιος, of overwhelming strength

ἕλκος, a wound

τείρω, to rub hard

σχέτλιος, miserable, unwearying

χρώς χρωτός ὁ, the surface of the body, the skin

δὐω -δύσω -έδυσα (or ἔδυν) δέδυκα δέδυμαι -εδύθην, plunge in, go into, sink

κῶμα, deep sleep, slumber

λυσιμελής, limb-relaxing

ὀφθαλμός -οῦ ὁ the eye

χέω χέω ἔχεα κέχυκα κέχυμαι ἐχύθην, to pour

ἀχλύς, a mist

κλίνω κλινῶ ἔκλινα κέκλικα κέκλιμαι ἐκλίνην, bend

δάπεδον, any level surface: the floor of a chamber

βαρέω, to weigh down, depress

γυῖον -ου, τό, only pl., joints

ψύχω, to breathe, blow

ἀμηχανία, want of means, helplessness, impotence

ἑταῖρος -ου ὁ, comrade, companion

ἀμφαγείρομαι, to gather round

Αἰσονίδης, Aesonides

ἀδινός, close-packed

περιθαμβής, much alarmed

ἄτη -ης ἡ, blindness, destruction

τυτθός, little, small

ἀποφθίνω, to perish utterly, die away

πέρ, encl. emphatic particle

μέλλω μελλήσω ἐμέλλησα --- --- --- think of doing, intend to do; be destined

κεῖμαι κείσομαι --- --- --- ---, lie, be laid down; lie sick

ἥλιος -ου ὁ, the Sun

πυνθάνομαι πεύσομαι ἐπυθόμην --- πέπυσμαι --- learn

ἔνδοθι, within, at home

σάρξ, flesh

ἰός, an arrow

ἄφαρ, straightway, forthwith, at once, quickly, presently

μυδάω, to ooze with damp, be clammy

χρώς χρωτός ὁ the surface of the body, the skin

ῥέω ῥυήσομαι --- ἐρρύηκα --- ἐρρύην flow, run, stream

λάχνη, soft hair, down

αἶψα, forthwith, at once, directly

χάλκειος, of copper

βαθύς βαθεῖα βαθύ, deep, high

τάφος -ου ὁ, tomb

ἐκλαχαίνω, dig

ἐσσυμένως, hastily.

μάκελλα, a mattock, pick

μοιράω to share, divide, distribute

χαίτη, long, flowing hair

νέκυς -υος τό, dead body, corpse

ἐλεεινός, finding pity, pitied

πάσχω πείσομαι ἔπαθον πέπονθα --- ---, to suffer, undergo, be affected

μύρω, to flow, run, trickle

ἔντεα, fighting gear, arms, armour

κτέρεα, funeral gifts

ἴσχω, hold; hold back, check, restrain

χυτός, poured, shed

τίθημι θήσω ἔθηκα τέθηκα --- ἐτέθην, set up, place, establish

ἄντομαι, to meet

πόρος,-ου,ὀ, means of passing; way

μαίομαι, to seek

χατέω, to crave, long

ἀλλοδαπός, belonging to another people

περάω περάσω (or περῶ) ἐπέρασα πεπέρακα --- ---, pass through

ἐξερέω, to explain, declare

ἐπιίστωρ, knowledgeable

τίθημι θήσω ἔθηκα έθηκα --- ἐτέθην, make

Ποσειδῶν -ῶνος ὁ, Poseidon

ἀνάσσω, be king, lord, or master of, rule over, reign

παρραλίη, seacoast, seaboard

νόσφι, aloof, apart, afar, away

Εὐρύπυλος, Eurypylus

Λιβύη, Libya, the north part of Africa

θηρότροφος, home of wild beasts

ἐγγίγνομαι, to be born or bred in

αὐδάω, speak

πρόφρων, readily

ὑπόσχέθω, hold out (see notes)

βῶλος, a lump of earth, a clod

Εὔφημος, Euphemus

παραβλήδην, by way of reply (see notes)

Ἀπίς, Apian land, Peloponnese

πέλαγος, the sea

Μινώϊος, of Minos, Cretan

πού, where, how

ἐκδάω, learn, know

νημερτής, accurately, truly

ἀνέρομαι, to enquire of, question

ἐνέπω, to tell, tell of, relate, describe

δεῦρο, (to) here

ἐθέλω ἐθελήσω ἠθέλησα ἠθέληκα --- ---, wish, consent

ἱκάνω, come to, arrive at, reach

βόρειος, from the quarter of the North wind, northern (see notes)

χρίμπτω, to bring near

πεῖραρ, an end, border

θύελλα, a furious storm, hurricane

μεταχρόνιος (= μετέωρος), aloft

κομίζω κομιῶ ἐκόμισα κεκόμικα κεκόμισμαι ἐκομίσθην, carry, take care of

χεῦμα, that which is poured, a stream

ἤπειρος,-ου,ἡ, the land

βαρέω, to weigh down

πῃ, where

πλόος, a sailing, voyage

ἐξανέχω, extends into (see notes)

Πελοπηΐς, ΐδος, to do with Pelops

ἱκνέομαι ἵξομαι ἱκόμην --- ἷγμαι ---, come

τανύω, stretch, strain, extend

δείκνυμι δείξω ἔδειξα δέδειχα δέδειγμαι ἐδείχθην, show, demonstrate

ἄπωθεν, from afar, far off

ἀγχιβαθής, deep near the shore

στόμα -ατος τό, the mouth

διήλυσις, passage through

βένθος, the deep

ἀκίνητος, unmoved, motionless

μελαίνω, to blacken

ἑκάτερθε, on each side, on either hand

λευκός, -ή -όν, white; light, bright

ῥηγμίν, the line of breakers, surf

φρίσσω, to be rough, bristle, shudder

διαυγής, transparent, shining

μεσηγύ, in the middle, between

στενός, -ή -όν, narrow

τελέθω, to come into being, to be

ὁδός -οῦ ἡ, way

ἐκτός, outside

ἐλαύνω, ἐλῶ, ἤλασα, ἐλήλακα, ἐλήλαμαι, ἐλάθην, to drive, row

ὑπηέριος, misty

θεῖος, η, ον, divine

εἰσανέχω, to stretch

πέλαγος, the sea

Κρήτη, Crete

δεξιτερός, right, the right

λίμνηθεν, from the lake

βάλλω βαλῶ ἔβαλον βέβληκα βέβλημαι ἐβλήθην, exit

τόφρα, up to that time, so long

παρά, from/by/to the side of

χέρσος, dry land, land

εἴργω εἴρξω εἷρξα εἶρχα εἶργμαι εἴπγαθην, to confine, hold in

ἰθύνω, to keep straight, steer

ἔστε, until, so long as

ἄνω, up, above, upwards

τείνω τενῶ ἔτεινα τέτακα τέταμαι ἐτάθην, stretch

περιρρήδην, sloping, in a curve

ἑτέρωσε, to the other side

κλίνω κλινῶ ἔκλινα κέκλικα κέκλιμαι ἐκλίνην, bend

χέρσος, dry land, land

τότε, at that time, then next

πλόος, a sailing, voyage

ἀπήμων, safe

ἀγκών, the bend of the arm, the elbow

τανύω, stretch, strain, extend

προέχω, to jut out

γηθόσυνος, joyful, glad at

κάματος, toil, trouble, labour

ἀνίη, torment, vexation;

γίγνομαι γενήσομαι ἐγενόμην γέγονα γεγένομαι ---, be born, become, happen

νεότης, youth

καίνυμαι, to surpass, excel

γυῖον -ου, τό, limb

μογέω, to toil, suffer

ἴσκεν, he spoke

εὐφρονέων, well-meaning, well-judging

αἶψα, forthwith, at once, directly

ἐκπροβλώσκω, to forth from, exit

λελίημαι, to strive eagerly

εἰρεσίη, ἡ, rowing

ἐπιπρονέομαι, to go forward

μάω, be eager, press on

τείως, so long, meanwhile, the while

ἀνατίθημι ἀναθήσω ἀνέθηκα ἀνατέθηκα --- ἀνέτέθην, to gather up

τρίπους, tripod

εἴδομαι, to be seen, appear

εἰσβαίνω, to go into

εἰσδέρκομαι, to look at, see

ἄφαντος, invisible

σχεδόν, suddenly, near, almost

ἰαίνω, to heat, warm

θυμός -οῦ ὁ, heart, spirit

μακάριος -α -ον, blessed, happy

ἐναίσιμος, favourably disposed

ἀντιβολέω, to meet by chance

μῆλον,-ου,τό, sheep

φέρτατος, best

ἀνώγω, bid, command

ῥέζω, work, offer

ἐπευφημέω, to say prayers over

αἱρέω αἱρήσω εἷλον ᾕρηκα ᾕρημαι ᾑρέθην, take, choose

ἐσσυμένως, hastily.

κρίνω κρινῶ ἔκρινα κέκρικα κέκριμαι ἐκρίθην, choose

ἀείρω, to lift, heave, raise up

σφάζω σφάξω ἔσφαξα ἔσφακα ἔσφαγμαι ἐσφάχθην, kill

πρύμνη, the hindmost part of a ship, the stern, poop

ἐνέπω, to speak, tell

εὐχωλή, a prayer, vow

δαίμων δαίμονος ὁ divinity, god, spirit

πεῖραρ, an border

φαίνω φανῶ ἔφηνα πέφηνα πέφασμαι ἐφάν(θ)ην, appear

εἴτε, either, or (usually paired, i.e. εἴτε...εἴτε)

ἅλιος, of the sea

τέρας -ατος τό, portent, monster

Φόρκυς, Phorcys

Νηρεύς, ῆος, ὁ, Nereus (Name)

θυγάτηρ θυγατρός ἡ, daughter

ἐπικλείω, to extol, to name

ἁλοσύδνη, sea-born, of Thetis; of Nereids

ἵλημι, be gracious

νόστος,-ου,ὁ, return (home)

τέλος -ους τό, result, fulfillment, end

θυμηδής, well-pleasing

ὀπάζω, grant

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Suggested Citation

Peter Hulse. Apollonius: Argonautica Book IV. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2022. ISBN: 978-1-947822-21-4. https://dcc.dickinson.edu/apollonius-argonautica/argonautica-iv-1483-1534