Jason
Jason is the hero and main character in the quest for the Golden Fleece. In that story he is the captain of the ship Argo (March 223). He is the son of Aeson and Alcimede (aka Polymede). Aeson was supposed to become the King of Iolcus when his father died, but his half-brother, Pelias, took the throne. Fearing for Jason's safety Aeson told Pelias that Jason had been born dead, and then sent Jason to be raised by Charon, the wise Centaur, on Mount Pelion (March 223).
When Jason grew to manhood he went back to Iolcus to reclaim his throne. Pelias was scared of Jason, and sent him on what he thought would be a quest of sure death, to find the Golden Fleece. Pelias said that the fleece was rightful property of his family and convinced him that it would be a glorious adventure. Jason liked the idea and had Argus build him the biggest boat Greece had ever seen; one that would hold up to 50 people. Jason was so pleased with this boat that he named it “Argo” after the builder. (geocities) Hercules, Theseus, Orpheus, and Nestor were a few of the heros that accompanied him in this journey. After Jason and the Argonauts had a couple of adventures, they came to Colchis. In Jason's quest to find the Golden Fleece he met the sorceress Medea. Jason's courage and abilities were put to the test by King Aeetes, who invited him to yoke the brazen-footed bulls that breathed fire from their jaws, and with their help plough the field of Ares where he was to sow from the half of the Dragon's teeth which Aeetes had got from Athena, after the killing of the Boeotian dragon by Cadmus years ago. (homepage.mac) He told Medea of his quest and promised to marry her if she would give him success. Medea gave Jason a magic salve that made him “hero for a day” by making him impervious to fire or weapons, and he was able to accomplish the tasks set by Aeëtes.(cnr) Jason and Medea stole the fleece and took off to Hellas, being pursued by a fleet of Aeetes. During the chase, Medea murdured her brother Apsurtus and threw his delimbed body into the ocean to slow up their pursuers. Medea helped Jason throughout his quest and he married her. (Willis 152).
In Euripides' tragedy Medea, Jason is married to Medea, but as the play begins he has just betrayed her by getting remarried to King Kreon of Corinth's daughter. Jason tries to justify to Medea his reasons, saying that he did it to provide her and their two sons with security. He figured she was useful during a time of trouble because of her skills and strength but now surrounded by peaceful citizens, she seems like a foriegn barbarian. It is not you," answers Jason, "who once saved me, but love, and you have had from me more than you gave. (theatrehistory) He goes on to explain that he brought her from a barbarious land to Greece, and that he is marrying the princess to win wealth and power for himself and his sons. "Neither do I wish to send you away in need; take as ample a provision as you like, and I will recommend you to the care of my friends." (theatrehistory) Medea is enraged, and she sends a poisoned dress and crown to Jason's new bride. The poisoned items do kill the bride and inadvertently kill the king. Medea then kills her two sons in order to further hurt Jason. Jason returns to find his children dead, and he is not able to punish Medea because she has fled on a dragon-chariot provided by her grandfather Helios.
It has sometimes said that Jason killed himself out of grief over the loss of his children, but the more common story is that a beam from the rotting Argo crushed him during a visit (March 224).
Works Cited
- Willis, Roy. World Mythology The Illustrated Guide. London: Duncan Baird Publishers, 1993
- March, Jenny. Dictonary of Classical Mythology. London: Cassell, 1998
- www.theatrehistory.com
- www.cnr.edu
- www.geocities.com
- homepage.mac.com