Jason and the Argonauts
The Archetypal Adventure

The Argo's next landfall was at the home of once-renowned King Phineus the prophet who was cursed by Zeus with blindness, lingering old age and tormented by Harpies, raucous birds with the heads of old women and razor sharp claws. As soon as Phineus would begin to eat, the Harpies would swoop down upon him with the speed of the West Wind and snatch the food from Phineus' hands. And, when they had their fill they would defecate on the leftovers. Such was the loathsome odor that no mortal could have gone near, but Phineus was also cursed with an insatiable appetite and the Harpies left enough putrid morsels for him to survive his torment.

As the Argonauts approached, Phineus hobbled to the door to greet them for he had prophesized their coming and partaking of his food. So old and weak was he that his bones were held together by only skin and gristle and when the Argonauts saw his shriveled form slumped in the threshold of his courtyard they took pity on him as the most wretched being they had ever seen, Zetes and Calais being moved to tears. Straightaway, the Argonauts prepared a feast to bait the Harpies. As soon as Phineus laid his hands upon the food, cackling Harpies appeared like bolts of lightening. They devoured everything in a flash, leaving behind a putrid mess. Zetes and Calais, descendents of the North Wind, pursued instantly and chased the Harpies to a faraway land where they would never bother Phineus again. Afterwards, everyone celebrated in a grand feast and, as a reward, Phineus used his gift of prophecy to counsel the Argonauts in their future journey.

After a short stay, the Argonauts set sail on a favorable wind stirred up by the Goddess Athena. Soon they reached a narrow and winding strait guarded by the Symplegades, the clashing rocks. Phineus had forewarned the Argonauts that no ship had ever passed through and, even if the Argo was made of iron, she would not survive. As counseled by Phineus, Jason released a dove to fly between the towering cliffs. The rocks crashed together like tremendous craggy teeth, nipping the dove's tail and sending foam towering into the sky among the clouds and thundering the atmosphere. While the rocks recoiled, the Argonauts, combining their mighty strength once again, bent their oars like bows as the pulled forward. The churning ocean dashed the Argo among its waves and eddies as the Argonauts rowed furiously through the straits. And just as the rocks crashed together again, the Argo, all but her aft ornaments, pulled free and surged into the open sea upon a gigantic wave

Joyful for their safety, the heroes bent their oars against the sea for days, sailing past many foreign lands. However, their adventure was not without mishap. The seer, Idmon, was slain by the tusk of a wild boar. Shortly thereafter, Tiphys, the helmsman, died from the microscopic monsters of disease. And with unbearable grief, the Argonauts mourned their fallen comrades for three days each and built monuments on the cliffs for passing ships to witness.

On the Island of Ares, the Argonauts encountered the Stymphalian Birds whose feathers were like steel arrows. The birds had taken roost on the island after Hercules had driven them from Greece in his sixth labor. The Argonauts knit their shields and spears above their heads and made such a noise that they scared the birds into the mountains on the opposite shore. Afterwards, as King Phineus' prophesized, the Argonauts saved four shipwrecked brothers who would aid them in their quest for the Golden Fleece.

With their new passengers and favorable winds the Argo soon approached Colchis near the edge of the world and the sea, with lofty Mount Caucasus rising above the kingdom. Here, in the sacred grove of Ares, an immortal serpent, born of the earth and the blood of a god, watches over the Golden Fleece with eyes that never grow weary with sleep.

Part IV -- A Deadly Trial.
Jason schemes to seize the Golden Fleece from King Aeetes .