This work provides a full commentary on the first book of Valerius Flaccus' Argonautica, an epic which has received increased attention in the last few decades, as may be seen from two recent editions (1997 and 2003). Its first aim is to clarify the text, which is sometimes rather difficult and, in places, still not established with certainty. Apart from this philological aspect, the literary merits of the poem have also been taken into account.

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Valerius Flaccus' Argonautica is one of the most significant surviving works of Flavian epic, which has recently become much more popular as a field of study and teaching in Latin literature. This is the first commentary in English directly tailored to the needs of graduate and advanced undergraduate students. It provides an introduction to the major themes of the poem and the structure and content of Book III in particular which can function as an overview of the key features of Flavian epic. The detailed commentary on Book III discusses linguistic issues, intertextual and mythical allusions and thematic strands. The book consists of two major episodes in the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts which can be read together or independently of each other.

This volume offers a new interpretation of Flaccus' Argonautica, a Latin epic poem. Stover's approach to the text is both formalist and historicist as he seeks not only to elucidate Flaccus' dynamic appropriation of Lucan, but also to associate the Argonautica's formal gestures within a specific socio-political context.

In spite of an increased interest over the last ten years in the 1st century AD Roman poet Valerius Flaccus, involving the production of several commentaries, part of his work Argonautica was still lacking a modern commentary. This book gives a full philological and literary commentary of the turbulent book VI of the Argonautica. The Silver Latin author's peculiar phraseology and choice of words is highlighted. Where possible the poem is interpreted in the context of the other Silver Latin epic poets.

The book contains a commentary on Book V of the Argonautica of Valerius Flaccus, paying attention to linguistic, philological and literary aspects. Line by line the words and phrases chosen, sources used and literary models are treated. The last commentary on all eight books of the Argonautica appeared a century ago (Langen 1896), so there is ample room to apply new views in Latin linguistics and concepts of literature. A small number of textual variants is supported.