CYZICUS EPISODE (1–461)

The Argonauts’ stay on Cyzicus is a traditional element of the myth and narrated also in AR (1.936–1152) and other sources (e.g. AO 490–628). In VF only the king is referred to by the name Cyzicus (2.629–36); other ancient authors confirm that the whole country bore the name Cyzicus (e.g. AR 1.1076, Ov. Tr. 1.10.29–30) and was (formerly) called Arctonnesus (Plin. HN 5.142). In historical times Cyzicus was a peninsula (perhaps originally an island), located in the Propontis in Asia Minor (on its geography see Marquardt 1836, Hasluck 1910, Delage 1930: 92–113), modern Kapu Dagh. Cyzicus (like other places in the vicinity) was an important centre for the cult of Cybele (on this goddess see e.g. Schwenn 1922; on differences between Greek and Roman versions of the cult see Summer 1996; on the Cybele cult in Augustan Rome see Becher 1991), as attested by literary, archaeological and numismatic sources (see e.g. Hdt. 4.76, Strab. 12.8.11; see Graillot 1912: 372–7, Schwenn 1922: 2287, Ruge 1924: 232–3, Vermaseren 1987: 91–7). The Argonautic voyage must have been traditionally associated with the cult, since the Argonauts were said to have founded the local temple (Strab. 12.8.11).

VF's Cyzicus episode (sometimes seen as a kind of epyllion: see Runchina 1982: 29–30) covers the end of the second and just over the first half of the third book (2.627–64, 3.1–461; see Intro. 2.3, 3.1, 3.2). At the end of the second book the Argonauts arrive at Cyzicus, and the eponymous king receives them hospitably (2.627–64). At the beginning of book 3 the Argonauts take leave of their hosts (3.1–13). After an address to the Muse (14–18), a flashback reveals that the goddess Cybele, looking for a convenient occasion for revenge on Cyzicus, who has killed one of her lions and displayed the spoils at his front door, identifies a good opportunity (19–31). Divine intervention causes the Argo to return to Cyzicus during the night (32–42). A battle between the former hosts and their guests ensues, during which many of the inhabitants of Cyzicus die and Jason kills king Cyzicus (43–248). Then Jupiter ends the fighting; in the morning the Argonauts realize with horror what has happened (249–72). They bury the dead; Jason and Cyzicus’ wife Clite deliver ‘funeral speeches’ (274–361).

THE POET: LIFE AND TIMES

Valerius Flaccus (VF) is mentioned by name only once in ancient literature, in Quintilian's Institutio oratoria (10.1.90): multum in Valerio Flacco nuper amisimus – ‘We have recently suffered a great loss in Valerius Flaccus.’ Because this is part of a survey of epic poets, ‘Valerius Flaccus’ must refer to the poet whose name is given in the manuscript tradition of the epic Argonautica. The poet's death was apparently a ‘recent’ event (a flexible term) when Quintilian's Institutio oratoria was published, for which a date of around 95 ce (prior to the death of the emperor Domitian on 18 September 96 ce) is generally assumed. This gives a terminus ante quem for VF's death, complemented by a terminus post quem, since the last conclusively datable reference in the poem is to the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 ce (4.507–9).

Further details about VF's life have to be inferred from the epic (his only known work) and its transmission. The manuscripts of the Argonautica give the poet's name as Gaius Valerius Flaccus; sometimes Setinus Balbus or Balbus Setinus is added, but the status of these additional items is uncertain. The epic's proem mentions a ‘a tripod sharing in the knowledge of the Cumaean prophetess’ in the poet's home (1.5–6): this remark, along with the poem's interest in religious rituals (3.362–458, 8.239–42), has led to the assumption that VF was a quindecimuir sacris faciundis, one of the priests in charge of the Sibylline books. However, the details given should not be taken too literally, and the persona adopted by the poet should not be confused with his biography: this presentation could have been chosen to highlight inspiration by Apollo.

From the notice in Quintilian and allusions to the emperors Vespasian, Titus and Domitian in the proem (1.5–21) it is clear that VF was active during the Flavian period (see Intro. 2.2). The Flavian age presents the unique situation within classical Roman literature that epics by three poets published in that time survive: VF's Argonautica, Statius’ Thebaid and Achilleid, Silius Italicus’ Punica. VF's poem is thought to be the earliest, and no clear references to the other Flavian epics have been found in the text.

Tertia iam gelidas Tithonia soluerat umbras exueratque polum; Tiphyn placida alta uocabant. it tectis Argoa manus, simul urbe profusi Aenidae caris socium digressibus haerent. dant Cererem lectumque pecus nec palmite Bacchum Bithyno Phrygioue satum sed quem sua noto colle per angustae Lesbos freta suggerit Helles. ipse agit Aesonidae iunctos ad litora gressus Cyzicus abscessu lacrimans † coniunx persocia uestes † muneribus, primas coniunx Percosia uestes quas dabat et picto Clite uariauerat auro; tum galeam et patriae telum insuperabile dextrae addidit. ipse ducis pateras et Thessala contra frena capit manibusque datis iunxere penates.

tu mihi nunc causas infandaque proelia, Clio, pande uirum! tibi enim superum data, uirgo, facultas nosse animos rerumque uias. cur talia passus arma, quid hospitiis iunctas concurrere dextras Iuppiter? unde tubae nocturnaque mouit Erinys?

Dindyma sanguineis famulum bacchata lacertis dum uolucri quatit asper equo siluasque fatigat Cyzicus, ingenti praedae deceptus amore assuetum Phrygias dominam uectare per urbes oppressit iaculo redeuntem ad frena leonem. et tunc ille iubas captiuaque postibus ora imposuit, spolium infelix diuaeque pudendum. quae postquam Haemoniam tantae non immemor irae aerisono de monte ratem praefixaque regum scuta uidet, noua monstra uiro, noua funera uoluit, ut socias in nocte manus utque impia bella conserat et saeuis erroribus implicet urbem.

While the poetry of the Flavian period has received increasing attention from scholars over the past few decades, it is still not widely taught within the standard Classics curriculum at universities, at least in Great Britain. It features in survey courses of different types, where it is mostly read in translation, but there are only a few courses dedicated to particular Flavian writers and to studying works in the original. One reason for this situation may be a lack of adequate teaching materials. This commentary seeks to take a step in improving the teaching opportunities by presenting the (revised) text of a book from the work of one of the three Flavian epic poets with a commentary in English. Since this book, Valerius Flaccus’ Argonautica 3, has not yet received a commentary of its own in any language, it is hoped that this volume will also offer material useful to scholars.

Book 3 consists mainly of two narrative sections, the so-called episodes of Cyzicus and of Hylas, which can each be read on their own, although, considered together, they show characteristics of Valerius Flaccus even more clearly. Both have been praised as impressive instances of Valerius Flaccus’ remodelling of traditional subject matter (see e.g. Garson 1964: 267, Zissos 2008: xxv n. 76) and therefore offer ample opportunities for intertextual analysis in relation to Apollonius Rhodius’ Hellenistic Argonautica, which is the model for the entire story, and to preceding Latin epic and tragedy, particularly Virgil's Aeneid, in terms of style and form.

This volume has benefited enormously from existing commentaries on Valerius Flaccus, especially those on the entire epic by P. Langen (1896/7) and F. Spaltenstein (2002, 2004, 2005) and that on the first book by A. Zissos (2008), and owes a huge debt to them, as well as to secondary literature on Valerius Flaccus. But in line with the conventions of the series, it has not been indicated when standard elements (e.g. grammatical explanations or parallel passages) have already been noted by earlier studies; equally, for parallels now widely recorded the scholar who first spotted them is not normally identified. Only in particular cases, for instance when contributions are unique or extremely controversial, are detailed references given.