The Stories of Jason
Jason is a hero in Greek mythology, who is famous for his journey to Colchis in search of the Gold Fleece with other Greek heroes. In order to regain the power of the kingdom Iolcus, Jason had to complete the task from his uncle Pelias, regardless of any hardship, he had to get the Gold Fleece.
Jason’s Early Experience
Jason was the son of Aeson, the King of Iolcus; and his mother was Alcimede, the daughter of Autolycus. The king Aeson had a stepbrother called Pelias, who was violent and unjust. Aeson and Pelias shared a common mother, Tyro, who was the daughter of Salmoneus and god Poseidon. Pelias was eager for the throne of Lolcus, so he killed Aeson and most of his descendants. However, luckily, the baby Jason was sent to the centaur Chiron to be raised on Mt. Pelion, so Pelias could not do anything bad to Jason. And the name Jason was given by the Chiron.
With time going on, Jason gradually grew up. At this time, Pelias was holding a great ceremony to his so-called father Poseidon, Jason decided to attend.
In his way to Iolcus, Jason met a old woman, who was Hera in disguise. He helped the “old woman” across the torrential river and was rewarded by Hera at last. However, when Jason cross the river, he lost one of his sandal. It was believed by Pelias that a man in Lolcus who was wearing one sandal would seized the power from him.
Then, Jason found Pelias and claimed his kingdom. Pelias agreed, but he put a
condition that Jason should bring him the Golden Fleece, which belonged to the king of Colchis and was guarded by a powerful dragon. Pelias thought that the task was impossible and Jason would never come back.
The Journey to Colchis
Jason began to gather companions without hesitation. At last he gathered a team of 50 people and started their voyage on a ship called 'Agro'. About this team, each one was a famous hero, the son or grandson of a god. Such heroes like Heracles, who just returned from his adventure with the Erymanthian boar. Orpheus was there, the divine musician; Castor and Polydeuces, the twin-brothers of Helen; Meleager of Calydon; Peleus and Telamon, whose sons, Achilles and Ajax, were to be great heroes of the Trojan War①; and so on. Together they were known as the 'Argonauts'.
On their journey, the Argonauts had met kinds of challenges. Then, after a long voyage, the Argonauts reached Thrace, the home of Phineus, a man who had great gift of prophecy that he could tell men all the future. At that time, the God Helios sent monsters called Harpies to kill Phineus for his power. Jason killed Harpies and saved Phineus. And in return, Phineus told him the site of Colchis where the Golden Fleece was kept, and what the Argonauts would meet during their further voyage. To reach Colchis, the Argonauts had to travel through the cliffs of Symplegades. So Phineus suggested that Jason release a dove between the cliffs. If the dove was able to reach pass the cliffs, the Argonauts could make it, too. Jason did accordingly. After
