Jason, a young hero, embarks on an epic journey to regain his father's throne from his unjust uncle, Pelias.
With the help of a group of heroes, the Argonauts, Jason undertakes the dangerous mission to bring the golden fleece from the distant Colchis.
The Illegal King
The king of Iolcus was Pelias. But he was not the rightful king. For when his father died, he left his eldest son, Aeson, dead on the throne. But Pelias drove him out and took the throne from him illegally.
In Pelion
Then Aeson, who knew how cruel his brother was, took his young son, Jason, and went up Mount Pelion, lest Pelias kill them. He entrusted his son to the wisest, Chiron. To this Centaurus all the great heroes had gone and studied under him.
Chiron and Jason
Chiron naked their bodies and minds. He taught them how to bow, wrestle, run, how to heal their wounds with herbs, and very much how to be good and righteous. For twenty years Jason stayed with Chiron and became a strong and worthy lad. . When he was twenty years old, he decided to return to Jolco, to take back from Pelias his father's throne.
The oracle of Pelias
Meanwhile, Pelias was always afraid of having his throne taken away. So he sent and asked the oracle of Delphi what to do. And Pythia answered him: to be afraid of the monosandalous man, who will come down from the mountains.
Meeting with Hera
Passing by the river Anavros, he met an old lady who begged him to take her across. She was the goddess Hera transformed, who wanted to test his kindness. Eagerly Jason took her on his shoulders. But in trying to cross the river he lost one of his sandals and arrived in the city and presented himself to Pelias as a monosandalous
Meeting with Pelias
As soon as he saw him, Pelias remembered the oracle. And when Jason asked him for the throne, he said to him:
- Take him, son. But the gods have commanded me to go to Colchis and bring back the bones of Frixus and the golden skin. But I'm an old man now. You must go and fetch them, and when you return, the throne will be yours.
And Jason accepted, because he wanted to be glorified, like Hercules and Theseus.
Call of the lads
The very next day, Jason sent envoys and invited all the lads to accompany him on the great journey. For he knew that Colchis was far away and the journey would be difficult.
In Pelion for woods
Then he went up to Pelion with many woodcutters and they cut strong beech wood and brought it down to the port. They were even helped by the goddess Hera.
Boat construction
And in a short time, it became the proud ship, which they named Argo, after the name of the master builder of Argos. In fact, Athena herself nailed a piece of wood from the sacred oak tree of Zeus in Dodona, which had a human kiss and prophesied the future.
Advent of Lads
In the meantime, the lads that Jason had called began to come. Among the first to arrive were Hercules, Theseus, Polydeuces, Castor, Admitos and others. Among them was Orpheus, the best musician in the world. When he played the lyre, the wild beasts were alive and the stones came alive. And there was Asclepius, a famous physician, to heal their wounds.
Election of a leader
So when they all came and the preparations were over, they offered a sacrifice to the gods and then they were ready to board the ship. Then Jason suggested that they should elect a leader. They all looked at Hercules. But he did not accept and said that it was only fair that they should choose Jason as their leader. So it was done.
So those who entered the Argo were called Argonauts and the journey Argonautic expedition.