Phineus in Apollonius of Rhodes: godliness and philanthropy

Abstract

This paper examines the reasons behind the change in Phineus' character in Apollonius’ Argonautica. Instead of being devious and merciless, the blind and weakened old soothsayer is presented as a philanthropist so dedicated to humanity that he puts himself at risk. Phineus’ acceptance of suffering and his unshakable trust in the divine are reminiscent of some bibli- cal figures, such as Fineas, Heli, and Job. This cultural shift in Hellenistic epic follows the spirit of Alexander the Great himself, who attempted to implement a mixed administration and merge the Persian and Macedonian aristocracies. The famous weddings of Susa, in 324 BC, were supposed to mark the beginning of a cosmopolitan era, which was never more than a dream. Although the challenges faced by the heroes in Apollonius of Rhodes' Argonautica illustrate the traditional hostility of the unknown world (Amicus the pugilist king, Aeetes the inhospitable sovereign, the Cyanean rocks, the deadly sea passage), reverence towards the gods and solidarity are also on the new hero’s itinerary.