Aeetes in the Argonautica of Valerius Flaccus

Hugh Parker (University of North Carolina, Greensboro)

This paper will examine one of the ways that Valerius Flaccus relates the Argonautica to events connected with the establishment of Rome as they are described in Vergil’s Aeneid, and by extension, to the rise of Roman hegemony that is foretold in Valerius’ poem. In the first book of the Argonautica Jupiter states that Jason’s acquisition of the Golden Fleece will be the first in a series of events leading to a shift in power from Asia to Greece and eventually to Rome (1.531-560). Having forged the link between Jason’s expedition and Roman domination of the Mediterranean world, Valerius was faced with the question of how to keep that connection in the minds of his readers. He does so in part by creating parallels between events and characters in his poem and events and characters in the Aeneid. We find one such parallel in Valerius’ treatment of Aeetes, the king of Colchis and rightful owner of the Golden Fleece, who, I shall argue, is analogous to Vergil’s Turnus as much as he is to the Aeetes of the Argonautica of Apollonius Rhodius. In this paper I will examine several passages from the Latin Argonautica that invite comparison between Aeetes and Turnus. In particular, I will discuss how Valerius has created an Aeetes who, like Turnus (but unlike the Aeetes of Apollonius), is a pawn of divine will. Just as Turnus is caught between Juno, who is eager to destroy Aeneas, and Jupiter, who has determined that Aeneas will succeed, so Aeetes is unwittingly caught in a divine trap. He believes that by making the right decisions in his dealings with Jason he can preserve the Golden Fleece for himself, but when he receives seemingly contradictory instructions from the gods about whether he should give up the fleece (5.233-237) or keep it (5.259-262), we know that he, like Turnus, is doomed to fail. A second point of connection between Turnus and Valerius’ Aeetes is the love that is shown for each of them by members of their families. The soliloquy delivered by Juturna on the grief she feels because of Turnus’ impending death demonstrates that this not very likeable Rutulian warrior was loved by his sister at least (Aen. 12.872-884), and it is natural to feel a little sympathy for both of them as we read her short speech. In the Argonautica Valerius makes it clear that Medea has heretofore been loyal to her father (5.393-396) and that she loves him no matter what we may think of him. In Book 8 (10-15) she delivers a soliloquy in which she tearfully regrets leaving her father, whom, she says, she loves no less than Jason. Two other characters in the poem, his son-in-law Phrixus (5.233-240) and Medea’s maid (5.403-406) speak positively of Aeetes as well.

Valerius, unlike Apollonius, creates an Aeetes who is, like Turnus, at least somewhat sympathetic, and his struggle with Jason is analogous to the conflict between Aeneas and Turnus. By making this connection, Valerius reminds his readers about the conflict in the second half of the Aeneid. This in turn serves to remind readers of the Argonautica that it is more than just the story of the capture of the Golden Fleece. Jason’s conflict with Aeetes represents the first stage in a series of events that will lead to Roman domination of the world.