Jason

Jason (Iason) Greek The hero of one of the most famous Greek legends, often known as "Jason and the Golden Fleece," or "Jason and the Argonauts." Jason was the son of Aeson, king of Iolcus, in Thessaly, and of Queen Alcimede. When Pelias, the half-brother of Aeson, deposed Aeson and claimed the throne of Iolcus, threatening to kill any who disputed his claim, Jason, the heir to the throne, was smuggled away from the kingdom and put into the care of Chiron, the gentle Centaur. After many years, Jason made his way back to Iolcus to regain his kingdom. On his way, he helped an old woman by carrying her across a river. He lost one of his sandals in the stream but earned the gratitude of the woman, who was the goddess Hera in disguise. Hera would always be an ally of Jason. Pelias had been warned by an Oracle to beware of a man wearing one sandal. When Jason appeared with one bare foot, Pelias sent him on an expedition to find the Golden Fleece, knowing it was unlikely that Jason would ever return. However, Jason came back triumphant. As well as the fleece, Jason also brought with him the sorceress-queen Medea, who brought him disaster after he deserted her for Glauca. Jason lived a lonely and unhappy life, wandering about from place to place, until he finally died under the prow of his ship, the Argo. Jason and the Argonauts Jason was the hero of this, one of the most famous Greek myths. Pelias, who had usurped the kingdom of Iolcus, sent Jason to capture the Golden Fleece, a quest from which he thought Jason would never return. However, Jason had won the favor of the goddesses Hera and Athene. With their help, Jason built the fabled ship Argo, which had 50 oars. He recruited 50 remarkable people called the Argonauts. They included one woman, Atalanta; Heracles, the strongest man who ever lived; Orpheus, the poet from Thrace who could sing more sweetly than the Sirens; and Castor and Pollux, brothers of Helen. They set sail for the Black Sea where legend said the Golden Fleece was hidden. After many adventures, the Argonauts reached the kingdom ruled by Aeetes. The king, whose help the Argonauts needed, imposed seemingly impossible tasks upon Jason. One was to harness fire-breathing Bulls with brazen feet and plow a field. Then he was to sow the plowed field with dragons' teeth, from which would spring fully armed warriors. Fortunately for Jason, Medea, daughter of Aeetes, had fallen in love with him. She used her powers as a sorceress to help him. Jason mastered the bulls, and when the armed men sprang from the dragons' teeth, Jason did what Cadmus had done before him: he threw a stone into the midst of the warriors, who accused each other of throwing the stone. They fought among themselves until all were dead. Medea then led Jason to the place where the Golden Fleece hung, guarded by a terrible dragon. Using a magic potion, Medea put the dragon to sleep, allowing Jason to secure the precious trophy. Jason and the Argonauts went to sea, accompanied by Medea, and pursued by King Aeetes. Medea slew her brother, Absyrtus, who had accompanied them. She cut his body into pieces and flung them into the sea and onto the surrounding land, knowing that Aeetes would gather up the dismembered pieces of his son's body to give them a ceremonial burial. Thus the Argonauts escaped with the Golden Fleece, and returned it to Iolcus.