Jason and the Golden Fleece

 Athamas and Nephele were the king and queen of Thessaly. In the first happy years of their marriage they had two children, Helle, a girl, and Phryxus, a boy. When Athamas no longer loved his queen, but loved another, the anxious mother feared for the welfare of her children and planned to send them far away to a safe land. Mercury came to help her and supplied a ram with fleece of gold, that had the power of flying through the air. Phryxus and Helle mounted the ram and began their journey. As they passed over a sea, Helle fell down and was drowned. In memory of her, this sea was for long known as the Hellespont. But Phryxus reached safely the kingdom of Colchisand was well received by King Aeetes. The ram was sacrificed to Jupiter and the golden fleece hidden in a quiet grove, where it was guarded by an ever watchful dragon.

Near Thessaly, there was a kingdom, ruled over by Aeson, father of Jason. Aeson gave over the crown to his brother, Pelias, on condition that, when Jason came of age, he should be given it back. But when Jason came to demand his kingdom, Pelias said “Let the youth first try himself by a bold adventure. He should bring to him the golden fleece.” Jason agreed to do so. A fine ship was made for him by Argus. There was room in it for fifty men. In honor of its builder, it was named the Argo, and those who sailed in it were called Argonauts.

Then, Jason, with a selected group of heroes, among them being Hercules himself, set sail on his adventure. Then one day, when the sea was calm, an island was sighted and they sailed towards it. It was the island of Lemnos. In earlier days, the man who inhabited the island had gone off to war in Thraceand had brought back only the women and maids as captives. For these, they developed so strong a passion that they rejected their own wives and the young girls who had so patiently awaited their return. The native women of Lemnoswere so angry that they armed themselves and slew not only all the captives, but all the men and boys who had once been their husbands and lovers in the past. These women then became warriors and learned to do all the work of men. They are known as Amazons. Jason and his companions were allowed to enter by these women. The Queen sent a messenger to ask them to land at once and enter the friendly city. Then, in this once quiet city, there was dancing and merry-making. Only Hercules and a few others stayed on the ship. Day after day, the ship remained anchored in this happy port and the sailing was repeatedly delayed. At last, Hercules in anger addressed the men, “Is this the way to win fame?” he asked, “To plow the fields for foreign women by day and make love to them at night! Did we set sail only for this, or to bring the Golden Fleece from far-away Colchis? Let us sail once again on our way!” And all knew that he spoke wisely, and quickly they made themselves ready for departure. The Argo thus sailed once again.

During the course of their journey they reached the kingdom of Amycus, a proud and boastful king. He had made a law that, if strangers came to his land, they should not be allowed to depart unless one of their members met the king himself in a boxing match. So, when the Argonauts landed, Amycus and his subjects met them on the shore and the king announced, “Select your bravest fighter to meet me in a boxing match!” Polydeuces stepped forth from the ranks of the Argonauts ready to fight with him.

The boxing-match began at once. Many fierce blows were landed by both fighters, who panted and sweated like angry bulls. At last, Polydeuces struck the king with all his might, and the king, in agony, fell down and as the Argonauts gave out a cry of victory, he breathed his last. Then his subjects rushed at the invaders, but were quickly defeated. The Argonauts then returned to the ship and sailed away.

Next they reached the shores of Thrace, where Phineus was king. The Argonauts were welcomed and brought as guest to his palace. When they were all assembled the king told them of his trouble. “As you see”, he began, “I am blind and old and weak and hardly have strength to speak. This is the punishment for something I did in the past. You will see in a moment the terrible torture I have to suffer.” As he spoke, the food was being brought to the banquet tables. But before the king or his guests could eat it, a fluttering of many wings was heard and a band of Harpies flew into the hall. These were part women and part vultures, with the head and breasts of the former and the wings and claws of the latter. Quickly they snatched the food from the hands of the diners and flew away. Only a few morsels were left, so that the tormented king may not die and thus be freed from his torture.

Two of the Argonauts, Zetes and Calais, who were children of the North Wind, and could fly like the wind, rose from their seats and pursued the Harpies. Soon they overtook them and would have slain them all, had they not been told by a divine voice that these Harpies were the Hounds of Jupiter and should not be killed. The same voice promised that the Harpies would never again torment the blind king. The king could now eat and drink in peace, and he gratefully told the Argonauts the way to Colchis. And he warned them about the danger of the Clashing Rocks, called the Symplegades, and how to pass by them safely.

Whenever unsuspecting ship sailed between these huge rocks, they rushed together with a terrible force and crushed between them the passing ship. Phineus told the Argonauts to release a dove when they approached this spot and if the dove flew safely between the rocks, this was to be taken as indication that they may also sail through. The dove flew through the opening, losing only one of its tail feather, as the rocks closed. The men cheered and sailed through as the rocks separated. On the crest of a huge wave, they safely passed by this danger. And then, finally, the shores of Colchis came in sight and they could see in the distance the palace of Aeetes, the king of the land.

Not knowing of their quest, Aeetes invited the bold adventurers to his palace and after they had supped with him, Jason told the king of his purpose. The king tried to conceal his anger and said to Jason: “O worthy Argonauts, we too, prize the Fleece of Gold which hangs in yonder sacred grove. This treasure we will yield to you gladly, but, first a few tasks should be preformed for me by one of your brave band. First, there are two bulls with legs of bronze which breathe fire from their nostrils. They must be yoked and made to plow a field. Then you must take some seeds which I have in my possession and sow them rapidly. The crop will be a strange one, for warriors fierce will grow out of the ground. These you must slay without any help from your companions. If all this is so accomplished, then the Golden Fleece will be yours and you may carry it safely back to your country.”

Jason agreed to do all this. Now Medea, the daughter of Aeetes, knew witchcraft. At their first meeting, she fell in love with Jason. She approached him as he stood alone outside his camp and offered him her help. She gave him an ointment, with which he was to cover his body and his weapons. This would protect him from the blows of the enemy, and the fire which came out from the nostrils of the brazen bulls.

Thus provided Jason came to the field. In a moment, the gate was opened and the two bulls, with legs of bronze, bellowing and breathing fire, rushed at Jason. He met their fierce attack and neither their physical power nor the fire which they breathed out could harm him. Quickly, he brought them to their knees, yoked them to the plow and, to the cheers of the Argonauts, plowed the field. Next he sowed the seeds, and at once, hundreds of fully armed warriors grew out of the ground. Jason remembered the advice of Medea. He picked up a huge stone and threw it in the midst of these warriors. Immediately, they turned from him and began to fight among themselves for the possession of the useless stone. In a short time, they slew one another and Jason quickly killed the few who remained.

Jason did not go directly to Aeetes to claim his prize. By now he understood the real character of this deceitful king. But that night, when all were asleep, the Argo was made ready for sailing at short notice. Then Jason hurried to the grove where the Fleece was hung and removed it from the tree. Then once again, the Argo set sail with Medea on her board, to be the bride of Jason.