Apollonius of Rhodes and the Spaces of Hellenism

“An innovative approach to a complex poem.”–Tim Kenny, The Journal of Hellenic Studies

“In focusing on cultural difference, Thalmann makes an important step forward in appreciating the Argonautika both as poetry and as a product of Ptolemaic Alexandria. He demonstrates the power of spatial analysis to connect erudition with storytelling and to uncover historical vision in what has been regarded as mere artfulness. In a theoretical argument that is both rigorous and accessible, he uses the dynamics of displacement to advance the crucial project of placing Apollonius.”–Frederick T. Griffiths, Classical Philology

“Apollonius of Rhodes and the Spaces of Hellenism is elegantly conceived, extensively researched, and beautifully written, and I have learned much in reading it.”–James J. Clauss, American Journal of Philology

“This book adds considerably to the stock of literary criticism on Apollonius’ Argonautica, the major surviving work of epic poetry between Homer and Virgil. The Argonautica is finally being read in its time and place. Recommended.” —CHOICE

“Apollonius of Rhodes and the Spaces of Hellenism is a welcome book. Thalmann presents new readings of the Argonautica and a valuable theoretical framework for the investigation of Apollonius’ work, which might also be applied to other spatial epics. Well-written and evocative, it should help readers unfamiliar with modern theorizations of space to approach them through a well-known but still underestimated text.” —Bryn Mawr Classical Review

“This is a well-written and sophisticated treatment of the spatial organization of Apollonius’ epic that begins in the traditional Greek world but ends by examining the novel spaces of Ptolemaic Alexandria. Thalmann uses the tropes of space and place to construct compelling arguments about the shifting ground of Greek identities in the early Hellenistic period. In doing so he frees the epic from its Homeric constraints by clarifying why such a poem would be written where and when it was.” –Susan Stephens, Stanford University