Jason and the Argonauts

After the death of King Kretheus the son of Aeolos, Pelias, son of Poseidon, already an old man, seized the throne of Iolkos from his half-brother and rightful heir, Aeson, and killed all those that opposed him. He only spared Aeson, whom he kept a prisoner in the palace so that he could keep an eye on him.

However, while in captivity, Aeson’s wife gave birth to a son whom they name Diomedes. The baby would not have survived Pelias’ wrath if his mother had not summoned her relatives to mourn over over him as if he was still-born. Thus, Diomeded was taken secretly out of the city of Iolkos and into the hands of the wise centaur Cheiron up on Mount Pelion. There the baby grew into a bold, bright hero whom, Cheiron renamed “Jason” (= the healer). When of age, Jason decided to return to Iolkos, confront his uncle and win back his rightful inheritance. On his way he came to the river Anauros, where an old woman asked him to help her get across. Jason offered to carry her, however half way through, the woman became unbearably heavy causing him a lot of distress, as well as to lose one of his sandals.  Once safely on the other side, the old woman suddenly changed into the form of Hera, who promised Jason her unending support.

 Long before Jason’s arrival, Pelias had been warned by an oracle to beware of any one-sandaled man. Upon seeing Jason, he approached and asked him of his descent and his plans for the future. Jason, not recognizing Pelias, stated his true identity and purpose. “What would you do if an oracle had warned you that one of your fellow citizens was planning to kill you?” asked Pelias in return. “I’d send him to bring back the Golden Fleece” responded Jason. The challenge was on even before Jason had realized he was indeed speaking to is mortal enemy. Later, Pelias revealed to Jason that Phrixos ghost had been haunting him and that indeed, if Jason was to bring the Golden Fleece back to Iolkos, he would gladly return him the throne. Jason listening to Goddess Athena’s advice invited Argos, the son of Arestor, to build him a 50 oared ship,  which honoring the master builder he named Argo.  Following Cheiron’s advice, he also sent heralds to all Greece announcing the great expedition and inviting daring participants. Hera filled the young men’s hearts with courage, so that very soon enough 50 excellent heroes had gathered on the shore of Iolkos ready to join the expedition for the Golden Fleece. These heroes came to be known as the Argonauts (= sailors of Argo). Just before they were ready to sail, Athena placed on Argo’s prow a branch from the sacred oak tree of Dodone that had the power to speak and reveal the future.

Among the heroes that went along were Heracles, Theseas, Amphiaraos, the Dioskouroi, Meleagros, Peleas, Kalais and Zetes, and the great Atalante, princess of Arkadia. Another famous participant was Orpheas whose divine music could appease not only all living creatures but also nature including the sea.The journey was long and perilous and the Argonauts had many adventures and extraordinary experiences on their way to Kolchis. Outstanding was the encounter with seer Phineas, whom the Argonauts and in particualr the sons of Boreas, saved from the Harpies. In return, Phineas gave them valuable advice about specific dangers that lay ahead along with the gift of favorable winds. Following this very advice, the Argonauts managed to go through the clashing rocks of the Symplegades, which from then on, and according to the oracle, ceased moving.

When the Argo finally reached Colchis, Aeetes, son of Helios, did not want to give away the Golden Fleece, so to deter Jason he asked him to accomplish the following feats. He had to yoke two fire-breathing bulls with bronze hooves, take them out to the field where he was to sow the teeth of a dragon, and then kill the armed Giants that would spring out. These impossible tasks were made easy through the help of Medea, the daughter of Aeetes and a powerful witch, who had fallen in love with Jason and had committed to helping him. Aeetes went back on his word, so eventually the Argonauts – with the help of Medea who charmed the guarding dragon to sleep – seized the Golden Fleece and fled to the awaiting Argo taking along Medea, whom Jason later on married.  In the long run, Medea proved herself a rather terrifying individual starting with killing her brother Apsyrtus and dropping pieces of his body in the sea to delay Aeetes’ fleet that was persecuting the Argo. The myth has it that the broken hearted king gave up the pursuit gathering his son’s pieces.

The journey home was equally challenging. One outstanding adventure involved the island of Crete and Talos, a gigantic bronze creature, in fact a robot, made by Hephaestos to protect the Minoans for invaders. Jason pulled the pin in his heal that sealed his single vein letting the divine blood (ichor) to flow out leading to his death. Jason’s arrival in Iolkos was not well received by Pelias. Once again, it was Medea that provided the solution persuading his daughters to kill him, cut him in pieces and boil them, which she told them was a magical procedure to rejuvenation. Jason and Medea lived in Iolkos for ten years until Jason’s infidelity led Medea to murder their children and fly away on a chariot dragged by fiery dragons.

More Heroes

Achilles was the son of the nymph Thetis and Peleus, and king of the Myrmidons. Thetis was a nymph, the daughter of the sea-god Nereus and renowned for her beauty.

Hercules has been renowned in Greek mythology as the greatest of all heroes. He was a demigod, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, a mortal woman and granddaughter of Perseus.

Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae the only child of Achrisius King of Argos. Achrisius longed for a son to succeed him so he consulted the oracle of the Delphi seeking a resolution.

Theseus was the son of Aethra daughter of king Pitheus and King of Troezen. He was raised by Aegeus but his true father might also be Poseidon, because Aethra lay with both of them in one night.

Triptolemus was the oldest son of King Celeus of Eleusis in Attica, and Metaneira. The myth behind Triptolemos is closely linked to goddess Demeter and hear search for Persephone.