Journal Phasis - Greek and Roman Studies

Kobakhidze, Ekaterine

English

Etruscans in the Context of European Identity

Danelia, Maia

Phasis 15-16, 2012-2013 
 
Maia Danelia (Tbilisi) 
The Myth of the Argonauts 
in the Context of East-West Relations  
At the beginning of The Histories by Herodotus where it is discussed how 
the Persian historians understood the stages of creation of the West/East 
confrontation, the expedition of Argonauts is absolutely clearly outlined 
as one of the most significant factors of this confrontation.1 However, the 
Legend of Argonauts explicitly suggests the following: despite the fact 
that the West/East Colchians are implied within the Western opposition 
in the confrontation, the images connected with Colchis represent the 
rather significant figures who played a rather important role in terms of 
relations between Europe and Asia. We could have provided a number of 
facts that Aeëtes was mentioned by Eumelus of Corinth as the native of 
Corinth who departed to Colchis after transfer of the kingdom to Bunos 
(Eumelos F 3 PEG, cf. Pind., Ol., 13, 53); Several sources connect Medea 
with Corinth; When the last king of Corinthians died without a heir, 
Medea was called from Iolcos and granted governance, therefore, we can 
realize the kidnap of Medea as the return to homeland to a certain extent 
(Eumelos F 5 PEG); one sister of Aeëtes, Pasiphae, is the wife of Minos. 
The residence of the other sister, Circe, is assumed to be near Italy from 
the period of Hesiod and Medea is assumed to be the person whose heir, 
Medos (the son of Egeus, according to some sources) had the role of a 
                                                 
1  Confrontation of Hellens and Barbarians is carried out in several stages in the works 
of Herodotus: Phoenicians came to Argos and kidnapped the daughter of the king 
Inakos, Io (I. 1). Hellens, assumably, Cretans, kidnapped the daughter of the king, 
Europe, in Tyros in Phoenicia; Hellens kidnapped the daughter of Aeetes in Aeaea-
Colchis (I. 2). In the second generation, Alexander, the son of Priamos kidnapped 
Helena (I. 3). 
Maia Danelia 52 
certain connector between these two opposing parties after return to Asia 
with his mother.  
     Despite the fact that several details of the legend underwent several 
transformations since the period of Homer until the Late Ancient era, it 
may be said that it fully maintained its function in the context of under-
standing of the European/Asian confrontation by the ancient community.  
It is interesting to observe how and in which direction this main 
motive was developed at the primary stages of processing of the Legend 
of Argonauts, simultaneously with the gradual expansion of the concepts 
– Europe and Asia, which new artistic, political and ideological aspects it 
covered in this process.  
     The fact that Caucasus had long-standing and multilateral relations 
with the Aegean world as early as in the Mycenaean epoch is proved by 
many ancient sources. Part of sources suggests resettlement of separate 
tribes or persons from Aegeis to Colchis. According to Eumelus of Co-
rinth, as already mentioned above, Aeëtes arrived to Colchis from 
Corinth;2 Later, Phrixus of Orchomenos escaped to Colchis to avoid the 
potential threat from his stepmother; Herodotus tells us about the origin 
of Colchians – he considers Colchians to be the part of army of the Egyp-
tian king, Sesostris (Her., 2, 103-106); According to some ancient sources, 
even Iberians and Albanians are descendants of Thessalians, partially – of 
Jason (Strab., IX. II. 12), while Caucasian Achaeans were Orchomenos 
colonists who resettled here after defeat of Troy; The Aegean wave of 
migrants is associated with the Caucasian Heniochs and even Chalybes, 
while Macrones are associated with Pelasgians in a number of sources. 
     The most significant part of the ancient sources is dedicated to the 
relations of the Aegean world with Colchis. According to these data, a 
strong association of Colchian tribes had already existed on the territory of 
the Western Georgia as early as in the Mycenaean epoch. Colchis and 
                                                 
2  When Helios divided his land between his sons, Aloeus got the land in Arcadia, 
Aeetes got Ephyra (Corinthos). He voluntarily gave the power to the son of Hermes, 
Bunos and went to Colchis under condition that if he or one of his heirs (son or 
grandson) would return, he would regain the power (Eumelos F 3 PEG). As the last 
king of Corinthians died without a heir, they called Medea from Iolkos and gave her 
the power, on the basis of which Jason became the king of Corinthos (Eumelos F 5 
PEG). Therefore, kidnap of Medea by Greeks means her return to the homeland to a 
certain extent. However, Medea did not stay in Corinthos for a long time. Secretly 
from Jason, Medea brought her child to the Temple of Hera, hoping that he would 
become immortal (Neophron and Euripides must have taken the motive of child-
killing from here). After disappointment, Medea gave the power to Sisyphus and left 
Corinthos [towards Colchis], when Jason returned to Iolkos (Eumelos F 5 PEG).  
The Myth of the Argonauts in the Context of East-West Relations 53 
famous Colchian heroes are included in the Greek mythology system and 
are used in the genealogical lists. The Greek heroes arrive to Colchis and 
on the contrary, Colchian heroes depart from Asia to various directions. In 
this regard, it can be said, that relations of Asia and Europe were reflected 
in the legend of the Argonauts in reliefic manner.  
     The Legend of Argonauts has a longstanding history of processing. 
Here I will focus my attention on the four main stages of processing of the 
legend (pre-Homeric, Pindar, Apollonius of Rhodes, Valerius Flaccus). 
     The core of Legend of Argonauts must have been processed in literary 
terms before Homer. Anyway, existence of the folkloric version of this 
legend in the Mycenaean epoch is hypothetical.3 Assumably, the informa-
tional core of Legend on Argonauts was epically processed entirely in the 
epoch of Homer.4 This is suggested by the data provided in the Homeric 
epos. Considering these data, Homer is familiarized with all three ele-
ments of the legend: road to the country of Aeëtes, things that happened 
in Aeaea, return section. Several facts certify that Homer had a clear idea 
of location of Aeaea in the Black Sea Region: 1. the term ―Hellespont‖, 
literally ―Sea of Helle‖, is known to Homer; 2. He is acquainted with the 
episode of Lemnos, which means that the Argonauts were moving in the 
direction of the Black Sea; 3. He places Cymeria near the Circe‘s Island, 
and this island is not too far from Aeaea.  
     Pindar, who appears to be the systematician of this legend, conveys the 
stories of the Argonaut campaign in a rather laconic manner, starting from 
gathering the army by Jason and finished by return to Iolkos. Even though 
Pindar is interested in this legend in the context of foundation of the town 
Cyrene, it can be said that the author‘s position regarding the issue inte-
resting for us is still outlined: in his works, Medea represents an important 
figure who makes a prediction on establishment of Cyrene to the seven-
teenth generation. Medea is mentioned as the queen of Colchians and as 
the one having immortal lips: παῖς ἀπέπνευσ‘ ἀθανάτου στόματος, δέσποι-
να Θόλχων (Pyth., IV, 11). Medea‘s immortality is specially emphasized in 
Pindar‘s works, which is clearly juxtaposed by half-divinity of Jason‘s 
companions: ἡμιθέοισιν Ἰάσονος αἰχματᾶο ναύταις (Pyth., IV, 12). Medea 
is also mentioned as an alien virgin (ξείνας) known for her wizardry: 
πῦρ δέ νιν οὐκ ἐόλει παμφαρμάκου ξείνας ἐφετμαῖς (Pyth., IV, 233).  
                                                 
3  Dräger P., Argo Pasimelusa: der Argonautenmythos in der griechischen und römi-
schen Literatur Serientitel: Palingenesia 43, Stuttgart 1993, 18. 
4  Urushadze A., Ancient Kolchis in the Myth of the Argonauts, Tbilisi 1964, 15. 
Maia Danelia 54 
     As mentioned above, confrontation of Europe and Asia stems from the 
Greco-Persian wars, in the late 6th century and the early 5th century. From 
this time onward these terms have been used to denominate the two parts 
of the universe and sometimes as generalized verbal symbols expressing 
the Greek and Oriental lifestyle.5  
     Naturally, the universe of Argonautics gradually covered more regions 
in line with geographic expansion. Accordingly, understanding of con-
cepts: Europe/Asia was expanded. It is difficult to admit that the creators 
of the first epic works at the level of mythopoetic thinking seriously 
thought about how the Argonauts might have come from Colchis to Libya 
or Adriatics. Only strengthening of aspiration to usage of elements of 
rational origins, scientific thinking forced the writers to look at the route of 
the Argonaut expedition from the viewpoint of scientific logics to a certain 
extent. Accordingly, search for arguments which would allow to 
accommodate the conditional geography of the early Argonautics to the 
geographic notions of Hellenes of post-Homeric period began. 
      In parallel to geographic expansion in the Hellenic epoch, knowledge 
about these two continents is increased and specified. While Asia and 
Europe are the daughters of Atlant and Thetis in Hesiod‘s works (Theog., 
357-359), they are understood as continents in the works of Apollonius of 
Rhodes. He uses the term ―Asia‖ in two forms: Ἀσίς (I, 444; I, 777) and 
Ἀσίη (IV, 261-293).6 In the famous speech of Argos, Apollonius of Rhodes 
tells the story of settlment of Asia by Sesostris. As for the term Γὐρώπη, it 
is mentioned as the continent only in the speech of Argos and in the other 
three cases it is personified (I, 181; IV, 1643; III, 1179). In the works of 
Hellenistic epicist, despite the fact that confrontation of the sophisticated 
Hellenic world and the Barbarian Colchian world is rather prominently 
outlined, which is confirmed by the tradition of Colchians according to 
which they used to hang the deceased men wrapped in skin on trees, it 
can be said that the Hellenic/Barbarian confrontation is not felt in the 
works of Apollonius of Rhodes as strongly as in the works of Herodotus. 
Unlike Homer, the poet of Hellenistic epoch can not avoid the geographic 
reality. Reflection of the so-called scientific-etymological interest as widely 
as possible places him within the context of the Hellenistic literature. 
                                                 
5  Gordesiani R., Die Gegenüberstellung Europa Asien vom Altertum bis zur Gegen-
wart, Logos Abhandlungen, Tbilisi 1997. 
6  Ἀσίς form is found in the prophecy of Idmon (I, 444) and where Lycos tells the 
Argonauts about Heracles (II, 777); As for the form Ἀσίη, it is confirmed in the speech 
of Argos (IV, 261-293). 
The Myth of the Argonauts in the Context of East-West Relations 55 
     After Pompey‘s campaign in Iberia and Colchis in 65 AD, the Roman 
vision of the Caucasus and the Caucasian people significantly increased. 
The interest towards the Oriental countries and especially, the Eastern 
Black Sea coast was reflected in the works of Valerius Flaccus to a certain 
extent. The borders of Europe and Asia are particularly clearly felt in his 
works (Arg., 4. 720). The fact that Flaccus demonstrates a great interest in 
topography of the geographic borders between the West and the East is 
clear when the Argonauts travel to Hellespont and reach the Black Sea. 
The crossroad of Europe and Asia is specially described. Attention is 
focused on several factors: this is a high-water region. Even the simple list 
is impressive: seven-arm delta of Istros, Tanais, Tyras, Yellow Hipanis, 
Novas, Meotis Bay. The water is less salty; everything freezes in winter 
due to terrible frosts.7 Here is the crossroad of Europe and Asia (Arg., 4. 
727-728). 
     It is absolutely clear that the poem can not be considered independently 
from the epoch of its creation, as a poetic work out of time and space. 
Rather, Flaccus a number of times suggests the realities and orientirs 
which are rather far from the century of heroes and the legendary epoch of 
Argonauts. Civil wars, eruption of Vesuvius leaves its trace on the poem 
of Flaccus. He enthusiastically describes the arrogance of tyrants, fear of 
subjects, pride of those doomed to death, the feeling of exemption from 
the pressure created as a result of death of the ruthless tyrant. 
      In this regard, the poem of Valerius Flaccus fundamentally differs from 
the poem of Apollonius of Rhodes in which there are no such references to 
his contemporary or preceding historic persons or events. Therefore, it can 
be said, that the poem of Valerius Flaccus is much more ideologized than 
the poem of Apollonius of Rhodes. Apart from the above factors, this is 
also expressed by the rather important role of religion in this poem and 
the Jupiter-oriented ideology. Accordingly, we can say that Valerius 
Flaccus absolutely consciously actualizes the traditional mythological 
information and in fact, puts the topic of Argonauts in the service of inte-
rests of the Roman Empire. As it appears the poem reflects the increased 
interest towards the Oriental countries and the Eastern Black Sea coast 
region which became particularly important after Mithridatic wars and 
Pompey‘s campaigns.  
      As for the Hellenic/Barbarian confrontation, we think that this 
confrontation is removed in the works of Valerius Flaccus as the tradition 
of wrapping the deceased in skin and hanging them on the tree, as 
                                                 
7  Cf. Strab., XI, 1, 5. 
Maia Danelia 56 
described by Apollonius is replaced by another form of burial here. We 
find data on the tradition of the northern neighbours of Colchians in the 
works of Flaccus, according to which, Yazigs severely executed the feeble 
old people. The exhausted elders were killed by the young descendants. In 
the poem, Flaccus specially emphasizes the circumstance that this custom 
is unacceptable for Colchians and they noticeably differ from their neigh-
bours. The contrast between the lifestyle and customs of Colchians and the 
North Caucasians is clearly felt throughout the poem. Colchians are much 
more sophisticated than their Caucasian neighbours.  
      It is noteworthy that Hellenic/Barbarian confrontation is so irrelevant 
in his works, that he presents not Hellenes and Colchians, but the regions 
of Caucasus as the confronting parties. Flaccus inserts an absolutely new 
episode in the poem to convey the domestic Caucasian relations, including 
the confrontations. The Book 6 and significant part of the Book 7 of The 
Argonautica is dedicated to the battles between Colchians and Scythians. It 
is noteworthy that Hellenes appear to be allies of Colchians in this war.  
    To conclude, we can say, that attitude of the Hellenic tradition to the 
events beyond Hellas used to change essentially over the time: while 
sources of the geometric epoch and antiquity which are mainly 
characterized by mythopoetic thinking used to convey this or that event 
without a comment, quasi-historical information is gradually introduced 
in the archaic period together with mythopoetic one simultaneously with 
starting the Greek colonization, which does not go beyond the mytho-
poetic borders. Hellenic/Barbarian opposition is formed in the classical 
epoch and though interest towards purely historical and geographic 
information is increased in this epoch, but the universe is seen from the 
viewpoint of this opposition. The outer world is interesting so far as it is 
connected with Hellas. Starting from the Hellenic epoch, the Helle-
nic/Barbarian confrontation loses its importance together with formation 
of the World Empire of Alexander of Macedon and certainly, interest 
towards events and facts is increased in this large world. Information 
increasingly acquires scientific value even when it is conveyed by mytho-
logical covering. This tendency is essentially continued in the epoch of Ro-
man dominance and together with purely historic information, additional 
figures and images created by imagination of writers occupy more place.8  
     Accordingly, if we observe the main stages of processing of the Legend 
of Argonauts, we will receive the following picture: if for the Greek, the 
                                                 
8  See the article of Gordeziani R., К восприятию Кавказа в античних источниках, 
Ιεκτά, Tbilisi 2000, 262-267. 
The Myth of the Argonauts in the Context of East-West Relations 57 
main confronting parties in this legend are Greeks and not Greeks as 
Asian Colchians, for the writer of the Hellenic epoch the quest of 
Argonauts is too close to the cosmopolitan perception of the world state 
formed by Alexander of Macedon in the Hellenic World, while the 
interests of Roman Empire and aspiration towards detalization of these 
interests in the region mentioned in his policy are clearly observed in the 
works of Valerius Flaccus. 


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