Constellation Argo Navis
conceptThe great southern constellation representing the ship Argo, in which Jason and the Argonauts sailed to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece.
The Myth
The constellation Argo Navis commemorated the ship Argo, built by Argus with the guidance of Athena for Jason's quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece from Colchis. The ship was constructed from timber cut on Mount Pelion, and Athena fitted a sacred beam from the oak of Dodona into the prow, giving the vessel the power of prophecy. Jason gathered the greatest heroes of the age — Heracles, Orpheus, the Dioscuri Castor and Polydeuces, Atalanta, and dozens more. After securing the Fleece with Medea's help, the Argo was dedicated to Poseidon at the Isthmus of Corinth. Athena later placed the ship among the stars. The constellation was so vast that 18th-century astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille divided it into three smaller constellations: Carina (keel), Puppis (stern), and Vela (sails).
Symbols
Fun Fact
Argo Navis was the largest constellation in Ptolemy's original 48 until it was broken into three pieces in 1763. The name lives on in the word "argonaut," which NASA used for its Argo program and which gives us the argonaut octopus — a creature named because its papery shell reminded naturalists of a tiny sailing ship navigating the open ocean.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Golden Fleece
conceptThe fleece of a golden-wooled ram, hung in a sacred grove in Colchis and guarded by a sleepless...
Argonauts
conceptThe Argonauts were the band of heroes who sailed with Jason on the Argo to retrieve the Golden...
Argo (Ship)
placeThe Argo was the ship built by Argus for Jason's quest — the first long-voyage ship in Greek myth,...
Golden Fleece (Origin)
conceptThe fleece of the golden ram Chrysomallus that carried Phrixus to Colchis, becoming the object of...
Argus Panoptes
creatureArgus Panoptes was a giant with a hundred eyes covering his body — the all-seeing watchman whom...
Atalanta
heroA heroine raised by bears who could outrun any mortal man. Atalanta joined the Argonauts, slew the...
Atalanta (Argonaut)
heroThe only woman among the Argonauts in some traditions, a virgin huntress raised by bears who could...
Athena
godGoddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, born fully armored from the head of Zeus. Patron deity of...
Athena (Warrior)
godAthena was the goddess of wisdom, strategic war, and craftsmanship — born fully armoured from...
Athena Promachos
godAn epithet of Athena meaning "the Champion" or "who fights in front," represented by a colossal...
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...