Pelias sent Jason and the flower of Greece across the sea for the Golden Fleece that Phrixus had hung in Colchis; the Argo passed Lemnos and the Clashing Rocks, won the prize through Medea's witchcraft, and came home to Iolcus by a blood-stained road — and even victory could not keep the captain from Corinth, exile, and the witch's final vengeance.1
The single sandal
When Pelias enquired of the kingdom, the god warned him to beware the man with one sandal. Jason, crossing the Anaurus on his way to sacrifice, lost a sandal in the stream; Pelias, recognizing the sign, bade him fetch the Golden Fleece from Aeetes at Colchis — some say Hera inspired the answer, wishing Medea upon the house of Pelias.2
The Argo and the muster
Jason assembled the noblest heroes of Hellas. Athena guided Argus in building the fifty-oared Argo and set a speaking timber from Dodona in her prow; Orpheus came from Pieria, the Dioscuri from Sparta, the Aeacids from Aegina, Heracles and the seers Idmon and Mopsus among the rest — the roll Hyginus calls the Minyae. From Samos, seat of the Imbrasian Hera, Ancaeus son of Poseidon sailed with the crew.3
Lemnos and the kingdom of women
At Lemnos the women had slain their husbands; Hypsipyle alone had saved her father Thoas. The Argonauts lingered, and Jason begot Euneus and Deipylus on the queen — until Heracles chid them back to the sea.4
Cyzicus and the night battle
King Cyzicus of the Doliones received them with hospitality; driven back by storm in the dark, they landed on the same shore and killed him in a night fight, taking him for enemies. At dawn Jason mourned and gave the king burial.5
Hylas and the parting of Heracles
In Mysia nymphs seized the beautiful Hylas at the spring; Heracles and Polyphemus searched while the Argo sailed on. Some say Heracles never rejoined the crew; others that the ship herself declared she could not bear his weight.6
Amycus and the Bebrycians
At Bebrycia king Amycus forced all strangers to box and killed them; Polydeuces met the challenge and slew the brute, winning the thanks of the Mariandyni who had long warred with that people.7
Phineus and the Clashing Rocks
At Salmydessus the blind seer Phineus, long tormented by the Harpies at his table, revealed the route when Zetes and Calais drove the snatchers to the Strophades — Iris swore by Styx they would trouble him no more. He bade them send a dove through the Symplegades and row hard in the rocks' wake.8
The fleece at Colchis
At Aea, Aeetes set Jason to yoke fire-breathing bulls and sow the dragon's teeth. Medea, priestess of Hecate, loved him and gave drugs that made him proof against fire and iron; when armed men sprang from the earth she counselled him to cast a stone among them so they killed one another. She lulled the sleepless dragon, and Jason took the fleece.9
Apsyrtus and the flight⚖
Aeetes pursued the fugitives. Medea murdered her brother Apsyrtus — Apollodorus says she cut him limb from limb into the sea; Apollonius sets Jason in ambush on Artemis' isle. Circe purified the crew for the slaughter; at the Sirens only Butes was lost, saved by Aphrodite. On the homeward voyage Euphemus son of Poseidon dreamed that the clod of earth he carried nursed at white streams of milk; Triton bade him cast it into the sea, and when he did an island rose — Calliste, sacred nurse of the sons of Euphemus, who in after days dwelt in Lemnos and came to Sparta as suppliants before Theras son of Autesion led them thither and gave the isle his name.10
The Phaeacians and the return to Iolcus
At Corcyra Alcinous would surrender Medea only if she were still a maid; Arete sent word to Jason, and he made her his wife in the cave of Macris before the Colchians could claim her. Home at last, Medea tricked Pelias' daughters into boiling their father; Acastus buried him and drove Jason and Medea to Corinth.11
Corinth and Medea's vengeance⚖
Ten years Jason and Medea dwelt at Corinth until he would wed Creon's daughter Glauce. Medea sent a poisoned crown and killed her sons Mermerus and Pheres — or, in another tale, the princess' fire consumed Jason and Creon as well. She fled to Athens, and in time returned to Colchis to restore her father against Perses.12
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