Jason and the Argonauts
The Archetypal Adventure

Part I -- The Gathering

As with most heroic epics, the destiny of the hero seems to have been spun by the fates before he was even born. This epic tale begins with Aeson, the rightful heir to the throne of Iolcus, and Pelias, his jealous stepbrother. When their father, the King of Iolcus, passed away Pelias imprisoned Aeson and took the crown for himself. However, unknown to Pelias, Aeson's wife bore a son named Jason. Averting JasonÍs certain death at the hand of Pelias, his mother secreted him to the cave of Chiron, a wise and noble centaur. For twenty years Chiron schooled Jason in the arts of the ancient world until the time came for him to claim his birthright.

Meanwhile, Pelias jealously guarded his crown. He paid homage to all the gods but Hera, Queen of the Gods, and he consulted the Delphic oracle who prophesized, "A hateful doom awaits you to be slain by the hand of the man with but one sandal."

During Jason's return to Iolcus he encountered a feeble old woman requesting to be carried across the river Anaurus. Fortunately, Jason didn't hesitate to transport the old woman because she was actually Queen Hera in disguise. Hera was testing Jason because she needed a hero to avenge herself against Pelias' scorn. Staggering under her godly weight, Jason lost a sandal in the river but gained the goddess' favor.

Jason arrived in Iolcus to claim his throne during a banquet that King Pelias held in honor of his father Poseidon. Upon seeing Jason wearing a single sandal, the King plotted a devious plan to send him on an impossible quest, in a faraway land, to fetch the magical Golden Fleece, hoping that he would be lost at sea or among strangers. Jason agreed to the task, eager to prove he was worthy to rule a kingdom.

To aid in his quest, Jason summoned Argos the shipbuilder who, with the help of Athena, constructed the largest and swiftest ship to set sail -- the Argo. And, in her prow was placed a timber from the sacred grove of Zeus at Dodona that had the power of prophecy. Jason then assembled four dozen of Greece's greatest heroes, including Hercules, the legendary son of Zeus; Theseus, slayer of the Minotaur; Orpheus, the great poet and musician; Castor and Polydeuces, also known as the Gemini Twins; Atalanta, a great huntress; the seers, Idmon and Mopsus; the winged brothers, Zetes and Calais; the fathers of many future Trojan War heroes, and many others fated to never return home. Henceforth, named after their ship, this band of heroes was known as the Argonauts.

After the Argo was supplied with everything needed to sail the sea, and Jason had spoken encouraging words to the throngs of people, without further ado, the Argonauts, their mighty strength combined, dragged the Argo from its moorings, down to the sea, and set sail for Colchis.

Part II -- The Perilous Voyage to Colchis.
The gods challenge the Argonauts with many trials.