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Jason and the Golden Fleece
Jason and the Golden Fleece
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"Jason"

From N.S. Gill,
Your Guide to Ancient / Classical History.
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Definition: Jason of Iolcus in Thessaly, the son of the former king of Iolchus Aeson or Eson and Polymede, was one of the heroes taught by the centaur Chiron. As a young man Jason went to the court of his uncle Pelias to reclaim the throne his father had given his uncle with the proviso that Jason would become king when he came of age.

King Pelias, warned by an oracle that a man with one sandal would cause him to lose the throne, was alarmed when he saw Jason who, while crossing a river had lost one of his sandals. To stave off the oracle's predicted ill fortune, Pelias sent Jason on what was presumed to be a suicide mission: to fetch the Golden Fleece from Colchis.

Jason succeeded in the seemingly impossible quest, with the help of his many heroic friends, known collectively as the Argonauts, and by charming the king's daughter Medea, a sorceress. When he left Colchis, Jason was oligated to take Medea with him because she had betrayed her father. On their sea passage, Medea killed her younger brother and tossed his limbs upon the sea.

Medea won the throne of Iolchus for Jason by conniving to have Pelias' own daughters kill him.

The pair continued together and had two sons, but later Jason reconsidered marriage to such a barbarian princess, so he set her aside in order to marry a Corinthian princess, Glauce, daughter of King Creon.

Medea was enraged, caused the death of Glauce and Creon, and in vengeance against Jason, destroyed Jason's and her children.

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Examples: Jason demanded the Golden Fleece from King Aeetes of Colchis who was reluctant to hand it over because his kingdom's luck was bound up in it.

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