Episode 16: The Voyage Begins
In this episode we follow the Argonauts from their starting point in Thessaly to the Bosporus, where they encounter the famous Clashing Rocks. Along the way we treat four events, including the Argonauts’ dalliance with the Lemnian Women, the tragic death of king Cyzicus, Polydeuces’ defeat of the brawny Amycus, and Phineus and the Harpies (“the Snatchers”). We also narrate and discuss the disappearance of Hylas, Heracles’ companion, and how that left the Argonauts three men lighter.
As always, we feature visual aids to help you follow the action. Below we present two maps of the first half of their journey, as told by the poet Apollonius of Rhodes. His geography seems to mix mythical events with a real landscape as was known to Greeks by the 3rd century BCE.
The Argonauts’ Journey: The First Leg. Note how ancient seafarers desires to keep land in view.
The following is a closeup of the events that were said to take place in the Propontis (ancient name for the Sea of Marmara).
The events that take place in the Propontis.
The Harpies (“The Snatchers”) descend on blind Phineus.
A modern adaptation by our student artist Allina Podgurski!
Credits:
Written and Narrated: R. Scott Smith
Sound Engineer: Samantha Coetzee
Voice Actors: A. J. O’Neil, Camden Roy, Julia Sommer
Music: Brooklyn Tea by Jared Sims
Artwork: Allina Podgurski