Argo (Ship)
placeThe Argo was the ship built by Argus for Jason's quest — the first long-voyage ship in Greek myth, with a beam from Dodona's speaking oak built into its prow.
The Myth
Argus built the Argo with Athena's guidance. Its most remarkable feature was a beam from the speaking oak of Dodona, which gave the ship prophetic ability — it could speak and advise the crew. The Argo carried fifty heroes (the Argonauts) through the Clashing Rocks, past the Sirens, and across the Black Sea to Colchis. After the quest, Jason dedicated the Argo at the Isthmus of Corinth. He later died when the rotting ship's prow fell on him — killed by the very vessel that had made him famous.
Parents
Built by Argus
Symbols
Fun Fact
Jason was killed by his own ship — the rotting prow of the Argo fell on him, a perfect Greek irony about fame and decay.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Argonauts
conceptThe Argonauts were the band of heroes who sailed with Jason on the Argo to retrieve the Golden...
Athena
godGoddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, born fully armored from the head of Zeus. Patron deity of...
Colchis
placeColchis was a kingdom at the eastern edge of the Greek world, on the shore of the Black Sea in...
Corinth
placeCorinth was a wealthy trading city on the narrow isthmus connecting mainland Greece to the...
Dodona
placeDodona in Epirus was the oldest oracle in Greece, where priestesses interpreted the will of Zeus...
Jason
heroThe hero who assembled the Argonauts and sailed to Colchis in quest of the Golden Fleece. Jason's...