Apollonius of Rhodes

Jason and the Argonauts Summary

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• published: 11 Apr 2011
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This is the story of Jason in mythology for a grade 10 English project I made. Sorry for background noise. ---Script--- • This is a story about a boy named Jason • This is Jason's father. He is the rightful king of Iolcus. • Now this is Pelias. He is Jason's uncle and the king's brother. This is what he did. He took over Jason's father's throne, and imprisoned him. • Pelias lived in constant fear of losing what he had taken so unjustly, so he planned to murder Jason at birth. • However, Jason's mother deceived him by mourning as if Jason had died. • Meanwhile, the infant was bundled off to the wilderness cave of Chiron the Centaur, where Jason grew up and was tutored. • Now Pelias honoured every god, except for Hera. Because of this, her plan to help Jason went into effect. She needed to know if he was a true hero for the task. • When Jason came of age, he went out to re claim the throne. On his way to Iolcus, there was a raging torrent. • On the bank, there was an old woman who asked for his help in crossing. Would he give way to her request, or go about his business? • Jason took the woman across with her, where halfway he staggered under her unexpected weight. • This woman was in fact, Hera in disguise. • Jason had lost a sandal in the moving stream, and this would prove significant. • Back at Iolcus, an oracle had warned Pelias, "Beware a stranger who wears but a single sandal." • When Jason arrived in Iolcus, he asserted his claim to the throne. But his uncle Pelias had no intention of giving it up, particularly to a one-shoed stranger. • In hospitality, Pelias invited Jason to a banquet. During the course of the meal, he engaged him in conversation. • "So you say you've got what it takes to rule a kingdom. How would you get rid of someone giving you difficulties? • "Send him after the Golden Fleece?" • "Not a bad idea, it's just the sort of quest for a hero. Tell you what, why don't you go?" • And so, our hero accepts. • Word quickly went around about his quest, and his recruitments came at the same speed. • His company was now known as the Argonauts, after his ship, the argo. • So one autumn day, they set out; however, it wasn't long before troubles hit them. Their first night's stop was on an island exclusively populated by women. Stinky women. • After that, they settled at Salmydessus. • The king welcomed them, but was in no mood for festive entertainment. • He had offended the gods, and as a result, Harpies invaded his territory. • Every evening at dinnertime, they dropped by to defecate on the kings food. • Fortunately, two of Jason's crew were from the North wind, given flying powers. • So they chased the harpies away. • In thanks, the king informed a danger on route to the golden fleece; • The Argonauts needed to pass through two clashing rocks called the Symplegades. • The method was to set a bird to fly through to prematurely clash the rocks, giving them enough time to pass. • And so, that's what they did. • The Argonauts arrived in Colchis. • The king and his people were not usually kind to strangers, • However on an earlier occasion, a newcomer was given extended hospitality because he came on a flying golden fleeced ram, sacrificed it and hung the fleece in a grove. • Now king Aeetes disliked Jason on sight. But his daughter Medea fell in deep passion with Jason from the goddess Aphrodite. • So, the king calmed down, and allowed him to the Golden Fleece. All he required of Jason was as a simple token of good faith was the merest of farmyard chores. • There were two bulls, and all Jason needed to do was harness them, plow the field, sow it and reap the harvest in a single day. • Oh, and these bull had feet of sharp brass, and bad breath. In fact, they breathed fire. • Conveniently, Medea was a famous sorceress, which she slipped Jason a salve, making him proof against fire and the brazen hooves. • Now king Aeetes had got some dragon teeth, which when they hit the soil, fully armed warrior's sprouted from the ground. • Jason used these men to help him in his work. • When the work was complete, Jason threw a stone at one of the men, which confused him to attack his neighbour. • By then, all the seed men had turned against one another until not one of them was left standing. • Aeetes still did not want to give away the fleece, telling Medea this. • Because of her passion from the love goddess, she turned to lead Jason to where the fleece was hidden. • The fleece was guarded by a dragon, but with a sleeping potion Medea had, she put the monster to sleep, and Jason retrieved the fleece. • Jason and his Argonauts then return to Greece. • So that's the end of his story. Actually, he dumps Medea. Too bad. The end.