Apollonius of Rhodes, also known as Apollonius Rhodius, was a Hellenistic poet, scholar, and librarian at the Library of Alexandria. His most famous work is the epic poem "Argonautica," which recounts the myth of Jason and the Argonauts and their quest for the Golden Fleece.
Little is known about Apollonius's early life. He was born around 295 BC in Alexandria, Egypt, which was a center of Hellenistic culture and learning under the rule of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. He studied under Callimachus, a prominent poet and scholar, which likely influenced his literary style and choice of subjects.
Apollonius's influence extended beyond his lifetime. His Argonautica inspired many later works in the Roman literature and beyond:
Apollonius's work was not universally admired in his time. There are accounts of him being mocked by his contemporaries, which led to a revision of his Argonautica. This version, known as the "Alexandrian edition," is the one that has survived. The exact nature of these controversies and revisions remains a topic of scholarly debate.