The simile in the “Argonautica” of Apollonius of Rhodes: transformation of the epic tradition

Apollonius Rhodius, the poet of the 3rd century B.C., was one of the reformers of the traditional heroic poetry. The centre stage scene of the poem “Argonautica” is dedicated to a rape of the Golden Fleece. This scene is centered on the genesis and the growth of the Medea’s love to Jason rather than on the description of heroes and battles. The lyric and magic plots (the final one is being narrated by the author) is not the only difference that differentiates this poem from Homeric poetry. Meanwhile in the Homeric poems the lyric and magic plots are usually narrated by heroes. The poem “Argonautica” exhibits traits of cycilic and didactic epics. The simile is a typical narrative device of Apollonius, inherited from Homer. The article examines the changes in the language and structure of the similes from Homer to Apollonius. Vocabulary renovation from non-homeric and homeric sources and its vivification as well as variations of the homeric formula correspond to all style transformations. The changes in the objects of similes, images of similes and signs of simile, the application of the simile in the non-heroic and marine scenes and for the description of the senses match the new gusts of the epoch and the interests towards the inner world and the extraordinary as well as magic. The similes not only mark a new theme, but also play an important role in the character characterization and take subjective air to the voice of the narrator. Due to numerous allusions to Homer, the reader perceives the dialog and polemic of Apollonius with his predecessor.