Jason
Jason's father was King Aeson of Iolcus in northwestern Greece. The king's half brother Pelias wanted the throne himself and overthrew Aeson while Jason was still a boy Jason's mother feared for his safety. She sent him away to be guarded by Chiron, a wise centaur who took charge of the boy's education in the Mountains of Pelion Chiron taught Jason hunting and warfare, music and medicine. Some accounts say that the centaur also gave Jason his name, which means "healer," in recognition of the boy's skill in the medical arts. Meanwhile Pelias recieved an Oracle to beware of a man with one sandal.
When Jason was 20 he decided to return to his father's kingdom in Lolcus to reclaim his family's throne. On the journey back Jason encountered a helpless old woman and offered himself to carry her across a river, the old woman was Hera in disguise who was putting Jason's kind soul to a test. While crossing the river, Jason lost his sandal and therefore arrived at Iolcus with only one sandal. Fulfilling the prophecy. |
In order to protect himself, Pelias set Jason an impossible feat: to bring back the Golden Fleece from the divine forest of Ares in Colchis. Jason first needed to find a strong ship and brave shipmates. Goddess Athena, who was helping the goddess Hera, ordered from the shipwright Argos a fast ship with fifty oars. The spectacular ship was named after his builder, "Argo". The comrades that were chosen for the journey took the name Argonauts. All of them were volunteers and were exceptionally strong and brave warriors. Among them were the strong Heracles, Theseus,the king of Athens and the musician and poet Orpheus.They might never have succeeded without the help of Medea, the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, who fell in love with Jason. Some versions of the story say that Hera persuaded Aphrodite, the goddess of love, to inspire Medea's passion. When Jason arrived in Colchis, Aeëtes, the king, set harsh conditions for handing over the Golden Fleece, including the accomplishment of several seemingly impossible tasks. Jason had to yoke two fire-breathing bulls to a plow, sow a field with dragons' teeth, and then fight the armed warriors that grew from those teeth. In all these trials, Medea used her magic powers to protect and guide
When the ship of Argo returned to Iolcus, Pelias still unwilling to give up his land. So Medea put a spell on Pelias to send him to sleep and convinced his daughters that her father had died. In order to return to life, they were advised to cut him to pieces and boil, so they did. Without knowing, they killed their father all by themselves.A few years later Creon, the king of Corinth, offered Jason his daughter's hand in marriage. Jason accepted and divorced Medea. Enraged at this Medea sent the new bride a poisoned wedding gown, which killed her when she put it on and killed Creon as he tried to save her. Most Myths say that Medea killed her own children and then she fled to Athens.
Jason lived out his last days at Corinth, alone and broken by tragedy. One day as he sat near the Argo , which was rotting away, a piece of wood broke off from the ship and fell on him, killing him in the process.
Jason lived out his last days at Corinth, alone and broken by tragedy. One day as he sat near the Argo , which was rotting away, a piece of wood broke off from the ship and fell on him, killing him in the process.