Dickinson College Commentaries

Escape from Colchis

Map showing how Medea and the Argonauts make their escape from Colchis

Peter Pond reads the opening of Argonautica, Book 4.1-56 in Greek.

Apulian red-figure situla: Odysseus and Diomedes steal the horses of Rhesus

The painting is roughly divided into two registers. In the upper register three Thracians sleep, two on the left, one on the right. They wear long belted tunics with long sleeves and leggings decorated in a zigzag pattern visible beneath. On their heads are pointed hats or hoods. The lower register shows Diomedes (left) and Odysseus (right) stealing two horses. Both men are nude except for their cloaks and carry swords in their right hands. Odysseus is bearded and wears a pointed hat.

Fresco: Cupid holding a rhombus

Venus sits on a chair or throne in the foreground dressed in a loosely draped garment. Mars stands behind the chair wearing a helmet with a large crest; some sort of cloak or cloth is draped over his left shoulder. He reaches around to grope Venus with his left hand. Venus reaches up with her left hand grasping his elbow. Cupid, shown as a winged cherub, hovers in the background holding a rhombus.

Drawing: Venus wounded by Diomedes

Diomedes (left) steps toward the left with right arm raised and pulled back preparing to stab Aeneas with his spear. Venus intervenes wrapping her right arm around Aeneas's waist and flying him away while warding off Diomedes with her left hand. Aeneas's left arm and shield are draped over Venus's shoulder, a sword hilt is visible in his right hand, but the blade is mostly out of frame.

Roman Cameo: Ajax seizing Cassandra

Cassandra clings to the statue of Athena, half sitting on its base as Ajax grabs her by the left shoulder with his right hand. On wears a helmet and bears a shield on his left arm. A chlamys is draped around his shoulders.

Wall painting: Ariadne waking on the shore of Naxos

Araidne (foreground center) lies on a mattress or pallet with a pillow as backrest. She supports herself on her right arm while raising her left, in which she holds a length of the cloth covering her, toward a ship sailing away in the background. In the stern of the ship the steersman points to the right away from Ariadne.

Roman Mosaic: Atalanta Hunting

Atalanta rides a galloping horse, bow held in her right hand with arrow nocked and ready. She wears ankle high boots, a knee-length tunic, and cloak. The cloak streams back behind her revealing the quiver on her back.

Flaxman: Ajax attacking the sheep

Ajax (center) steps forward with his left leg toward a flock of sleeping sheep (right). Holds a short sword or dagger high over his right soldier preparing to swing down. Athene hovering to the left and sightly behind Ajax, urges him on.

Achilles and Briseis Fresco, Pompeii

Achilles' surrender of Briseis to Agamemnon, from the House of the Tragic Poet in Pompeii, fresco, 1st century AD, now in the Naples National Archaeological Museum