In this article, we bring you the relevant information about the Golden Fleece, a ram that saved the children of Nephele, was later sacrificed, and became the constellation Aries. It was then a highly prized object for the Argonauts, who went to the land of Colchis to find it. Keep reading to learn all about what happened!
Golden Fleece
In the article that we bring you next, we will let you know about the history of the Golden Fleece. It is a story that dates back to ancient Greece when the Greek King named Atamante began to repudiate his wife Nefele with whom he already had two children named Hele and Frixo. Since he had the firm intention of marrying the beautiful princess Ino.
But the beautiful princess Ino turned out to be a very evil and envious woman who planned the death of the two children of the Greek King Atamante, so that the children she had with the Greek King would be the heirs to the throne. In order to kill the children of the Greek king Atamante the beautiful princess Ino, she began to seize all the grain of the kingdom that was destined for the next harvest and roasted it.
In that year, Princess Ino caused no harvest to occur and the peasants who were worried and very frightened by the situation went in search of King Atamante for a solution and he in turn went to consult the Oracle of the kingdom.
The answer that was given in the Oracle was that he was not going to see any more harvest in the kingdom until the two sons of Nefele were killed since the Greek king Atamante was very seduced by the beautiful princess Ino.
When Nefele found out that they wanted to kill her two children, she decided to explain to the Greek gods so that they would help their children to survive the given situation. The Greek gods heard Nefele's prayers and decided to help her by sending her a magical ram that had golden hair that was known as the golden fleece, this animal could fly.
In this way, the children of Nefele were able to escape on the back of that animal known as the golden fleece, which carried them throughout the Greek geography. Although it is said that on that journey that they lasted mounted on the back of the golden fleece one of the children fell specifically it was Hele and he drowned, but the golden fleece was able to carry the other son of Nefele named Phrixus to the country of the Colchis.
In that town the inhabitants received the child Frixo with great affection, the child to thank such hospitality decided to sacrifice the golden fleece and give away his golden fleece. The inhabitants of the country of Colchis were so grateful for the gift that they decided to place the beautiful skin of the golden fleece on a tree. Although there are other versions of the story that the skin of the golden fleece was placed on an oak tree.
After they hung it, they consecrated it to the Greek gods, among them was the God Ares and he sent a dragon to take care of it. It is said that the golden fleece was cared for for a long time until Jason arrived and managed to keep it by mocking the dragon that protected him.
Interpretations of the Golden Fleece
Many people have investigated what the golden fleece means, since many say that it is an extravagant object from a myth, others say that it is a reflection of an object from Greek culture and it is real. But the theories that are most successful is that the legend of the golden fleece means that it was the arrival of livestock in Greece from the east and it is also said that it is the golden wheat that resembles the sun.
But there are many interpretations of the meaning of the golden fleece, there are researchers who are based on the versions that exist on the purple fabric, since that color was extracted from the snails of the so-called Murex and in ancient times they were very expensive. That is why purple clothing was a sign that the person had great wealth and a prominent social position in Greek culture. That is why there is a very thin relationship between gold and the color purple with the golden fleece according to the researchers of the Greek culture.
But the interpretations of the golden fleece do not end here, as there are versions that link the golden fleece with a method they devised to extract gold from the black sea that is located in the Georgia region. The system consisted of making sheep sheepskins that are spread over wooden frames that are submerged in the water and the gold nuggets that come down from the river and people collected them with this system.
Although all the interpretations that are made of the golden fleece suggest that all the interpretations that are made of it are before the rationalizations that knowledge in Greek culture is undergoing.
The mythology about the golden fleece
When investigating the mythology that exists about the golden fleece, it can be understood that it is the story that exists about a magical ram whose hair is made of gold that was able to save the children Frixus and Hele, from the certain death that his father prepares for him. stepmother Princess Ino.
After rescuing the two sons, one of them falls into the lake and drowns while Nefele's other son survives and is cared for in the city of Colchis. Country that is located very close to the Black Sea in the eyes of the kingdom of Aeetes. Who is the father of Medea and brother of Circe and Pasiphae. After sacrificing the golden fleece, which was a ram, it becomes the constellation of Aries.
The story of the golden fleece begins with the infatuation of the Greek king Atamante, who decides to repudiate his wife in order to marry the beautiful princess Ino.
jason and the golden fleece
Jason and the Argonauts are the sailors who were on the ship called Argo, who are described in Greek mythology as the heroes who had the courage to sail the ocean from Pagasas to the country of Colchis in search of the Golden Fleece. These heroes were led by Jason. That who tells all the adventures of him in many epic poems of antiquity.
In addition, the name of Argonaut means that it is the name of the ship where they sailed to search for the golden fleece. It also means that the Argonaut is a very fast ship. Although the story of the Argonauts in search of the golden fleece is very old in Greek mythology. Since it is about a hero who, together with his sailors, collapses on a dangerous journey to go in search of the golden fleece.
The trips that Jason made in the Argonaut are recounted in several literary works of Antiquity, one is the poet Homer who refers to them in the Argo being the first time that they can cross the wandering rocks while they went to the country of Colchis, but not makes mention of the golden fleece.
Jason's Travel Background
As the throne of the city of Iolcos had been occupied by Pelias. Since his half-brother Aeson had been dethroned by force. Jason being the son of Aeson was able to reach the age of majority. He arrived at the kingdom of Yolco with the intention of claiming the position of king, since he wanted to participate in a sacrifice that was going to be made to the God Poseidon.
But the Oracle of the kingdom had already warned Pelear that a person with only one shoe was going to ask for the throne and this was how Jason could get to the palace. That is why Pelias took the option of giving him the throne but with only one condition that he had to sail to the country of Colchis.
There he should look for the spirit of Phrixus and the Golden Fleece. Since the golden fleece was a ram that had wings and its skin was golden like the color of gold and it had saved Frixus from the death that his stepmother Princess Ino was going to give him.
That mission that Pelias proposed to Jason was intended for him to die in the attempt to search for the golden fleece. Along with the sailors from him. There is another version where Jason himself. He asks Pelias a question about what would have happened if the Oracle had predicted that the arriving citizen would kill him.
The answer that Jason gave was instigated by the Goddess Hera who did not like Pelias for the offenses he committed against the kings and pretended that the mission was going to be a failure.
Construction of the Argo Ship
Jason had the idea to consult the Oracle of the kingdom, and the oracle encouraged him to build a ship to fulfill the mission Pelias had given him: the search for the Golden Fleece. When he decided to build the ship, it had to be very fast and light, since the seas were full of shifting rocks. Once the ship was built, they christened it Argo in honor of its builder, as that was his name.
This ship was built with the ideas of the goddess Athena, the wood that was used was cut in the forests of Pelion, which are located in the city of Thessaly. This boat was built of the best wood and had fifty oars to make it very fast. The ship's prow was built from the wood of the Dodona forest. This wood according to had the gift of speech and prophecy.
The relationship of the Argonauts
With the ship ready to sail to the adventures, Jason decided to send for the best soldiers known at that time, they were called Heralds. So that they would participate in the future expedition in search of the golden fleece. Until this call came various heroes who had the firm intention of participating in the adventures. As the ship was filled with many influential heroes for the time they were called the Argonauts in search of the golden fleece.
Although there are other stories where they are called in different ways such as "the list of Apollonius", "the Minias", "that of the Orphic Argonautics of 50". It is mentioned that there were 54 heroes who participated in the search for the Golden Fleece. Among the heroes that are mentioned participating are the brothers Zetes and Calais, the diviners Idmon and Mopsus, Ceneus who was born a woman but was granted the wish to be a man, Lynceus known as the one with the prodigious sight and Orpheus one of the best musicians among other great heroes.
Start of the trip
In the versions that we have about the journey of the Argonauts, all affirm that Jason was chosen as the leader of the expedition in search of the Golden Fleece. In this first stage of the trip the route that was praised was to pass near Cape Sepíade, which was close to Skiathos Island.
But the expedition arrived at Lemnos Island, there they realized that the island was inhabited by many women and they had killed all the men who inhabited the island. Since these had married the women of the island of Thrace since these were beginning to have a bad smell.
All the Argonauts were well received on the island full of women, they even began to have love ties with Lemnian women, the highest authority was in charge of Queen Hypsipyle. On this island the Argonauts stayed for quite a long period. Until Oracles who never landed on the Argos urged him to continue the journey in search of the Golden Fleece.
Samothrace and the land of dolions
After leaving the island that was full of women, Orpheus gave directions and they were able to reach the Island of Electra. While there, the heroes were initiated into the mystery rites that are celebrated on that island. In the story told by the poet Diodorus Siculus, a storm swept them towards Sigeo, which was next to Troy. In that place the Hero Heracles was able to kill a great sea monster that was sent by the God Poseidon.
After having come out alive, they decided to leave again, reaching the country of the Dolions, where Cyzicus reigned, who was very pleased with the arrival of the Argonaut heroes and received them very hospitably. Later they had to leave and being on the ship they were surprised by a strong storm that they decided to return.
When they returned to the country of the dolions, the soldiers believed that they were the enemies and attacked them, a hard battle was held where the Argonauts had to kill several soldiers, including their king Cícico. When they finally recognized each other in battle, they lamented everything that had happened and honored the king who had died in battle.
The abandonment of Heracles and the Abduction of Hylas
Then they embarked again and sailed to the island of Mysia, where Hylas was sent to look for fresh water to drink and was kidnapped by the nymphs. Although they searched for him in various places, they were unsuccessful. Then Heracles went out together with Polyphemus to look for him and they did not return, according to legend, they did not embark on the Argos again, and Tifis wanted to take advantage of the strong gusts of wind that there were.
At that moment an argument arose for having left the three heroes, since Zetes and Calais defended those who were missing and at that moment the sea god Glauco emerged from the sea, who shouted that the three heroes should not reach the country of Colchis in search of the golden fleece. Because that was not his destiny. The gods had chosen another purpose.
Arriving in the country of the Bebrices
When they arrived in this country they were received by King Amico who forced foreigners to fight with him. There he killed them, that's why he launched the challenge to the heroes of the Argonaut, the heroes began to see who was going to fight with the king being chosen Polideuces.
The fight was strong but Polideuces was able to defeat King Ámico and killed him, at which point a tough battle began between the Argonauts and the Bebrices. Many Argonauts died there. After the battle was over, those who were alive set sail on the ship Argo.
Phineus and the Witches
After a time at sea they arrived at a place in Thrace in that place lived Phineus, who was blind but had the power of divination, he was also subdued by witches who had wings and harassed him at every moment until they prevented him from eating . As the Argonauts wanted to know what destiny was preparing for them, they spoke with the fortune teller and he asked to be freed from the witches who harass him every moment of his life.
Like the heroes named Zetes and Calais, who were the sons of Borea had wings and could fly and went flying in search of the witches, it is said that the flying heroes followed the witches for a long time until they got tired and died. Although there are several versions.
Phineus, very grateful for what the Argonauts did, told them that they had to go through the pass of the Simplegades rocks, which were also known as Ciánes. These were large rocks that were not fixed and every so often they collided with each other. He also instructed them to take a bird and release it if the bird passed by they would too.
Although they followed that, the pigeon passed although it lost some tail feathers and they did it rowing at full speed although the stones were closed they managed to pass through the stones that moved by themselves and this was the first boat that could survive the stones that were they move alone
Obtaining the Golden Fleece
After all these adventures they were able to reach the Colchis country, Jason announced to King Aeetes that his life purpose was to obtain the Golden Fleece. The king told him that he could go with the golden fleece but he had to fulfill the following challenge:
“It consisted of uniting two bulls with bronze hooves and breathing fire, plowing a field with them, planting dragon teeth on the furrows and then defeating the serpent or the dragon that never slept and that remained at the foot of the tree where was the fleece.”
The daughter of King Aeetes, seeing Jason, fell passionately in love with the hero, she was a beautiful lady and at the same time she was a sorceress. But this was the work of Aphrodite and Eros. The Greek muse Calciope also intervened in that. Who helped Jason finish that feat and the king's daughter put her sorcery into practice.
Giving Jason an oil that had magical properties and that he had to spread all over his body so that the monstrous bulls would not harm him. With this he was able to meet the bulls and pass the first test.
Then he threw the dragon's teeth on the ground and from there strong warriors who were known as the Espartos were born. They went into battle against the hero Jason.
But he followed the instructions that the sorceress had given him and threw a stone between them and these warriors began to fight each other. When she had to face the snake, she was asleep thanks to the magic of the sorceress.
With this he was able to take the golden fleece and escape with the king's daughter and the other remaining Argonauts. But they had to do it quickly as King Aeetes intended to burn the ship with all the Argonauts inside.
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