Jason (Golden Fleece)
heroThe hero who assembled the Argonauts and sailed to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece, aided by Medea's sorcery.
The Myth
Jason was the rightful heir to the throne of Iolcus, usurped by his uncle Pelias. When Jason arrived to claim his kingdom, Pelias set an impossible condition: bring back the Golden Fleece from Colchis, at the eastern edge of the known world. Jason commissioned the ship Argo — built by Argus with Athena's guidance — and assembled the greatest crew in mythology: Heracles, Orpheus, Castor and Pollux, Atalanta, and dozens more. The voyage was epic: they navigated the Clashing Rocks, fought the Harpies tormenting blind Phineus, and survived countless perils. At Colchis, King Aeetes set three trials: yoke fire-breathing bulls, sow dragon's teeth, and defeat the warriors that sprout. Jason would have failed without Medea, the king's daughter and a powerful sorceress who fell in love with him through Aphrodite's intervention. She gave him protective ointments, told him to throw a stone among the earth-born warriors, and drugged the sleepless dragon guarding the Fleece. Jason's later betrayal of Medea led to terrible vengeance.
Fun Fact
The word Argonaut now means a daring adventurer — NASA used it for early astronaut candidates.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Atalanta
heroA heroine raised by bears who could outrun any mortal man. Atalanta joined the Argonauts, slew the...
Jason
heroThe hero who assembled the Argonauts and sailed to Colchis in quest of the Golden Fleece. Jason's...
Medea
heroA powerful sorceress and princess of Colchis who betrayed her family to help Jason win the Golden...
Medea (Sorceress)
heroMedea was a granddaughter of Helios and priestess of Hecate whose sorcery saved Jason — and whose...
Orpheus
heroThe greatest musician in Greek mythology, whose playing could charm animals, trees, and even...
Phineus (Prophet)
heroA blind Thracian king and prophet punished by Zeus for revealing divine secrets, tormented by...
Aeetes
heroKing of Colchis, son of Helios, father of Medea, and guardian of the Golden Fleece who set...
Pelias
heroUsurper king of Iolcus who sent Jason on the quest for the Golden Fleece hoping he would die, and...
Phineus the Seer
heroBlind Thracian king and prophet cursed by Zeus to have his food snatched by Harpies until the...
Argo (Ship)
placeThe Argo was the ship built by Argus for Jason's quest — the first long-voyage ship in Greek myth,...
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...