Ritual mutilation in Apollonius Rhodius’ Argonautica
In Apoll. Rh., Arg. IV, 477-479 Jason mutilates the corpse of Apsyrtus. To date, there has been a great deal of scholarly disagreement concerning the motive of this μασχαλισμός: either the mutilation was intended as a cathartic appeasement sacrifice, or its goal was to avert the vengeance of the vic...
Enregistré dans:
| Dans: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/kernos, |
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| Auteur principal: | |
| Format: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Langue: | Anglais |
| Publié: |
Kernos
2011
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| Accès en ligne: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
| Résumé: | In Apoll. Rh., Arg. IV, 477-479 Jason mutilates the corpse of Apsyrtus. To date, there has been a great deal of scholarly disagreement concerning the motive of this μασχαλισμός: either the mutilation was intended as a cathartic appeasement sacrifice, or its goal was to avert the vengeance of the victim’s ghost. This article opens up a new perspective by examining the ritual within the broader context of the fourth book of the epic. The appeasement motive is generally considered to have originated with Apollonius. However, a contextual study shows that he meant to apply the vengeance motive. All the signs that indicate an appeasement sacrifice can be explained in other ways. Moreover, Apollonius more than once explicitly refers to the defilement of Medea and Jason. The conclusion is that Jason mutilated Apsyrtus in order to avert his vengeance, not to bring an offering of atonement. |
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