Memoria del passato e memoria del futuro: le porte del tempio del Sole (Val. Fl. 5,415-454)

This article examines the ekphrasis of the doors of the Temple of the Sun in Valerius Flaccus’ Argonautica Book 5 (5,415-454), that provides a key example of how Valerius transforms the Argonautic myth by combining memory of the past with anticipations of the future. The scenes on the temple doors, forged by Vulcan, depict a wide range of subjects: the Egyptian origins of the Colchian people, mythological stories such as those of Aea and Phaethon, the voyage of the Argonauts, and even the future tragedy of Medea at Corinth. Through these images, Valerius creates a narrative that moves continuously between history, myth, prophecy, epic, and tragedy. The article highlights the strong influence of Virgil’s Aeneid, especially the temple of Juno at Carthage and the shield of Aeneas. Like these Virgilian models, the temple doors provide information about both past and future events, but in a more unsettling and ambiguous way. The ekphrasis culminates in the tragic fate of Medea, foreshadowing her revenge against Jason and the destruction of the Corinthian royal house. Rather than celebrating Colchian history, the images create an atmosphere of anxiety, fear, and suffering, turning the temple doors into a powerful reflection on destiny, memory, and the dark aspects of myth.