Welcome back, classical gourmands, to episode 223 of the Ad Navseam podcast! Prepare to get your fill with another delectable discussion of Greco-Roman civilization, stretching from the ancient Minoans and Mycenaeans through the Renaissance and right down to the present.
Broadcasting directly from Parnassus Vomitorium Central (the “bunker”), your devoted hosts return to the microphones. Dr. Jeffrey T. Winkle is back from a camping trip in the hinterlands of northern Michigan, nursing a few mild complaints about the swampy humidity and ravenous mosquitoes. Meanwhile, Dr. David C. Noe recently returned from travel down to Texas for a family wedding, where he stopped at Buc-ee’s for barbecue and beaver nuggets while enduring hotel Keurig coffee!
Divine Intervention and the Argonautica’s True Hero
The centerpiece of today’s episode continues the multi-part exploration of Apollonius of Rhodes’ Hellenistic epic, the Argonautica. Dave opens with a quote from David M. Gaunt’s 1972 article in Greece & Rome:
“Direct celestial intervention is rare in Apollonius’s narrative, and where it does occur, it often has no significant consequences.”
Gaunt, quoting J.R. Bacon, notes that while the Odyssey is named for a man (Andra), the Argonautica is well-named because it is fundamentally the story of a ship (Argo) and a voyage. Jeff and Dave compare the Argo to pop-culture vehicles like Herbie the Love Bug, Knight Rider,
Blue Thunder, or Airwolf—where the vehicle itself takes center stage while human characters rotate around it.
Jason, the nominal leader, remains a remarkably “vacuous” hero compared to Odysseus. Raised in the woods by Chiron the centaur (the ancient Greek “Yoda”), Jason returns to Iolcus to reclaim the throne usurped from his father, Aeson, by his evil uncle, Pelias.
Along the way, Jason carries an old woman across a river, losing one of his sandals (or Crocs!) in the mud. The old woman was actually the goddess Hera in disguise. When Jason limps into town wearing only one shoe, Pelias panics—recalling an oracle that warned a man with one sandal would bring his doom! To send Jason on a fatal “fool’s errand,” Pelias demands he retrieve the Golden Fleece from Colchis at the far eastern edge of the Black Sea.
The Catalog of Minyans and Democratic Deference
Jason assembles an “ensemble cast” of over 50 heroes, known locally as the Minyans. In Book 1, Apollonius provides a famous catalog of these Argonauts. The catalog includes famous fathers of Trojan War heroes, such as Peleus (father of Achilles) and Telamon (father of Ajax), as well as winged heroes like Zetes and Calais (sons of the North Wind, Boreas). First on the list is the mythical musician Orpheus.
Once assembled on the beach at Pagasae, Jason displays an un-Homeric level of deference. Rather than asserting his royal command, Jason calls a democratic assembly and asks the heroes to vote for the best man to lead them! The crew immediately shouts for Heracles. However, Heracles stretches out his hand and refuses the honor, insisting that the man who assembled the team—Jason—should remain in command.
The Island of Lemnos: A Dark Reversal
After offering sacrifices to Apollo, the Argo sets sail. Their first major stop is the island of Lemnos, where the Argonauts encounter an extraordinary, dark situation. Because the men of Lemnos had spurned their wedded wives in favor of captive Thracian women, the Lemnian wives—driven by jealousy and a curse from Aphrodite—murdered every single male on the island! Only the young queen, Hypsipyle, showed mercy, secretly saving her aged father, Thoas, by setting him adrift in a wooden chest.
Left alone, the Lemnian women took over the fields, herds, and governance, completely reversing traditional Greek gender roles. When the Argo arrives, Hypsipyle initially plans to send them food and wine so they will leave without discovering the massacre. However, her old nurse, Polyxo, advises the assembly that without men, the island will have no future generations.
Hypsipyle reverses course and invites the Argonauts into the city. Jason dons a splendid purple mantle woven by Athena—described in a long ekphrasis resembling the shield of Achilles—and enters the palace. The heroes and the Lemnian women hit it off, and the voyage is delayed for days as the crew indulges in banquets and romance.
Finally, Heracles—who refused to join the festivities and stayed behind to guard the ship—calls a meeting and harshly scolds his comrades. He sarcastically asks if they plan to settle down, plow foreign soil, and abandon their quest while Jason populates Lemnos with offspring! Shamed by Heracles, the Argonauts bid a peaceful farewell to Hypsipyle, board the Argo, and strike the seawater white with their oars as they head toward their next adventure.
Sponsors and Support
Before fleeing the vomitorium for some unknown reason, the hosts thank their sponsors:
- Hackett Publishing: Explore their extensive catalog of classical translations, including the Lombardo and Polsley translation of Apollonius’s Argonautica used in today’s episode! Check out their Hackett Signature Editions Collection at hackettpublishing.com and use code AN2026 for 20% off your entire order plus free shipping.
- Plautus & Terence Winner: Congratulations to Ryan Martini, the lucky winner of our giveaway for Five Comedies of Plautus and Terence!
- Ratio Coffee: Upgrade your morning routine with a Ratio 4, Ratio 6, or Ratio 8 machine. Use code ANRATIO2026 at ratiocoffee.com/adnavseam for $20 off.
If you want to learn Latin or master ancient Greek, head to latinperdiem.com. Use code AESTAS15 for 15% off Unit 1 of the starter Latin course (Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata) through June 15, or code 10PLUS for 10% off MossMethod for Greek. Keep an eye out for the $1.99 Moss Method for Greek Reader app and the Calvin’s Latin Bible app!
Credits & Gustatory Parting Shot
A huge thank you to sound engineer Mishka for her top-tier audio editing, and to guitarist Jeff Scheetz for his rock tracks Thrillseeker and Rush Hour. Check out his guitar work at jeffscheetz.com!
Don’t forget to write to the hosts at dave@adnavseam.com or jeff@adnavseam.com. Next week in episode 224, the hosts continue their journey through Book 1 and Book 2 of the Argonautica!
We leave you today with our Gustatory Parting Shot from Munia Khan:
“No food is edible if you don’t feel like eating. Standing is incredible if you hate sitting.”
Thanks for listening, and we will catch you next week!
