Jason and the Golden Fleece
Jason and his shipmates drew near to the coast of Colchis aboard their ship, the Argo. To gain the kingship of his native land, Jason had to retrieve a fleece of gold which was owned by the king of Colchis. This king, Aeetes, had no intention of parting with his prize and gave Jason three impossible tasks to gain it. Despairing of ever attaining the fleece, Jason retired to the Argo to commiserate with his companions. However, they had a secret visit from an unknown ally: Medea, the daughter of Aeetes and a powerful sorceress, had fallen in love with Jason. She told him the secrets to overcoming the guardians of the golden fleece.
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The next day the hero appeared before Aeetes to accept the tasks. The first was to yoke two bulls and plough a field. These bulls, however, had hoofs of bronze and breathed fire, and had been gifts from the gods. Jason approached the beasts but, unknown to Aeetes, he had covered himself with fireproof ointment supplied by Medea. He was thus able to yoke the fiery bulls and successfully plough the field.
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The second task seemed merely to sow the field with the teeth of a dragon from a bag Aeetes gave him. Medea had warned Jason that fully armed warriors would spring from the dragon’s teeth and attack him. So Jason broadcast these strange seeds and the harvest of warriors soon followed. Taking Medea’s secret advice, Jason cast a stone in their midst. Unsure from where the rock had been thrown, the warriors set upon each other and soon all were dead.
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Two of the fleece’s guardians—the bulls and the warriors—were vanquished, but Jason now had to face the third and most terrible. As he approached, Jason could see the golden fleece brilliant in the sunlight hanging from a tree. However, curled beneath the tree was a dragon who never slept and which guarded the fleece day and night. The beast snarled at Jason, daring him to approach closer. The hero, however, was ready too for this obstacle. From under his belt he drew out a small phial given him by Medea: springing towards the dragon, he sprayed it with the container’s fluid before leaping away. The phial contained a sleeping potion and the monster slept for the first time in its life.
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Jason grabbed the fleece but would not stay around for Aeetes’ approval—or otherwise. He and Medea quickly fled to the Argo and his crew cast off, leaving Colchis behind. Jason had obtained by stealth, cunning and, above all, Medea’s help what had seemed impossible. However, they had slain Medea’s brother as they escaped and Aeetes stopped to mourn his son rather than pursue the fleece thieves. Stained with this murder, Jason was not to enjoy kingship himself and he and Medea became exiles.