Jason and the Argonauts
Jason and the Argonauts are Greek heroes who sail aboard the Argo to fetch the Golden Fleece. In the most common version, Jason needs it to regain his rightful throne. Their story joins daring adventure with troubling questions about loyalty, betrayal, and the cost of success.
Key stories of Jason and the Argonauts
The voyage of the Argo
King Pelias sends Jason to fetch the Golden Fleece from distant Colchis. Jason gathers a crew of heroes, including Heracles and Orpheus.
In Argonautica, the heroes help the blind prophet Phineus escape the Harpies. In return, he explains how they can pass safely between the crashing rocks.
In The Argonautica by Apollonius of Rhodes
Medea and the impossible tasks
King Aeetes sets Jason deadly tasks before he can claim the fleece. The king’s daughter Medea falls in love with Jason and gives him magical protection.
In Argonautica, Medea’s ointment protects Jason as he harnesses fire-breathing bulls. Following her advice, he throws a stone among the armed warriors who spring from the dragon’s teeth, turning them against one another.
In The Argonautica by Apollonius of Rhodes
Taking the Golden Fleece
Medea helps Jason reach the fleece, which hangs in a sacred grove under a dragon’s guard. They take it and flee Colchis together.
In Argonautica, Medea uses an incantation and a drug to put the dragon to sleep. Jason lifts the fleece from the oak tree and carries it back to the ship.
In The Argonautica by Apollonius of Rhodes
Jason’s betrayal
The later story turns from adventure to tragedy when Jason abandons Medea to marry a princess of Corinth. Medea takes terrible revenge.
In Medea, Jason defends his new marriage as a practical choice for his family. Medea kills his bride and her father with poisoned gifts, then kills her own children.
In Medea by Euripides
How to recognise Jason and the Argonauts in stories
- Look for the Argo and its crew of famous heroes.
- Notice the Golden Fleece, fire-breathing bulls, and a watchful dragon.
- Watch for a hero whose success depends on Medea’s help.
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What is the Golden Fleece?
The Golden Fleece is the golden wool of a miraculous ram, kept in Colchis under a dragon’s guard. It is the prize Jason must bring home. In Argonautica, obtaining it requires both the crew’s courage and Medea’s magical help.
Is Jason the same hero as Odysseus?
No, Jason and Odysseus are different Greek heroes. Jason leads the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. Odysseus fights at Troy and struggles to return home in The Odyssey. Both face dangerous sea journeys, but their purposes and companions differ.
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