SASA Mini Reading Group: The Search for the Golden Fleece: Jason and the Argonauts

Previous participation and previous knowledge not required.

The Golden Fleece was a magical object held by King Aeetes of Colchis during the age of heroes before the Trojan War. After an omen about being killed by his son–a common trope in Greek mythology–King Pelias of Thessaly sends his son Jason on an impossible quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece. 

In this reading group, we will read the Argonautica, a 4-book epic poem written by the Hellenistic scholar Apollonius of Rhodes who was the head of the famous Library of Alexandria during the 3rd century BC. We will consider the twists and turns of their adventure, the “Other” and conceptions of foreignness, conceptions of Greekness, allusions to Homer’s Odyssey, and Hellenistic attitudes toward ancient myth.

Tuesdays @ 2pm EST

Jan. 4th

Jan. 11th

Jan. 18th

Participants only need to register for each Reading Group once, you will receive links to our Live Syllabus where readings and discussions are posted in the confirmation email.

By RSVPing, you are agreeing that a recording of the event can be shared with others who RSVPed.