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The
Argonauts (Greek: Αργοναυται) were a band of heroes who accompanied Jason to Colchis in
his quest to find the Golden Fleece. As
many as 85 names are listed in different sources but some of the prominent better
known are, Hercules (son of Zeus), Asclepius, Atlanta, Castor and Pollux (Twins
or Gemini), Laertes who was Odysseus’ father, Perseus and Amyrus who was Poseidon’s
son.
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| The Argonauts were named after their ship, Argo that was built by Argus with goddess Athena’s help. |
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After the death of King Cretos, Pelias usurped
the Iolcan throne from his half-brother Aeson. Because of this unlawful act, an oracle warned
him that a descendant of Aeolus would seek revenge. Pelias put to death every descendant
of Aeolus, but spared Aeson because of the pleas of their mother Tyro. Aeson married Alcimene who bore him a son named Jason. Alcimede saved her baby by faking a
stillbirth and a burial and took baby Jason to Mount Pelion where he was raised
by the centaur Chiron, the trainer of heroes.
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When
Jason was 20 years old, an oracle ordered him to head to the Iolcan court.
While traveling Jason lost his sandal in Anavros River while helping an old
woman who was Hera in disguise. Another
oracle warned Pelias to be on his guard against a one-sandal man. At a sacrifice to Poseidon Pelias noticed a
youth with only one sandal who was Jason his nephew. As Pelias could not kill Jason because
prominent kings of the Aeolian family were present, he asked Jason instead:
"What would you do if an oracle announced that one of your fellow-citizens
were destined to kill you?" Jason replied that he would send him to go and
fetch the Golden Fleece, words that were put in his mouth by Hera.
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Jason learned later that according to an
oracle, Iolcus would never prosper unless Prixus’s ghost was taken back in a
ship, together with the golden ram's fleece. The fleece now hung from a tree in
the grove at Colchis, guarded night and day by a dragon that never slept. However,
Hera supported Jason's during his quest to find and bring the fleece back on
Argo and upon his return to become the King of Iolcus.
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