Welcome back to Greek Mythology Gods. In the previous episode, we explored the story of Jason’s birth and destiny.
Today, let us follow this hero chosen by fate, setting sail for uncharted waters to embark on a legendary adventure to reclaim the Golden Fleece and the Land of Women.
Long ago. Hermes, the messenger god, bestowed upon Phrixus and Helle a flying golden ram, rescuing the siblings—Phrixus and Helle—from persecution by their stepmother. On their journey, Helle fell into the strait and drowned. Phrixus rode the golden ram to Colchis on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. King Aeetes treated him with great respect and gave him his daughter in marriage. To thank the gods, Phrixus sacrificed the ram and gave the Golden Fleece to his father-in-law. Aeetes hung the Golden Fleece in the sacred grove of Ares, guarded by a giant dragon. From then on, the Golden Fleece became a coveted treasure of many nations.
Years later, Jason, seeking to reclaim his throne, was sent by the usurper Pelias to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece. He rallied over fifty heroes, including Orpheus and Heracles. Under Athena's guidance, the skilled craftsman Argo built the warship "Argo." The heroes called themselves "Heroes of the Argo," offered sacrifices to the sea god, and set sail for the Black Sea.
The first stop—Limnos Island. This was a "land of women." The reason was not mysterious: driven by old grudges and fear, the island's women had slaughtered all the men in the city in a single night; they then declared themselves queens, ruled by Queen Hypsipyle, the daughter of the former king. She feared the Thracians might take advantage of the situation, and also worried about the outsiders' intentions.
Jason chose to proceed with diplomacy first. He sent men ashore to greet them, explaining they were merely seeking lodging. The queen convened a general assembly—to defend the city and also to quell the chain of hatred. The final decision was: to treat them with courtesy, the heroes landed to rest, a banquet was held in the city, and goodwill gradually dissipated. Some, however, became engrossed in the pleasures of the land, forgetting their mission.
At this point, a sober-minded person stepped forward. Hercules sternly reminded everyone: the Golden Fleece wouldn't come by itself. Jason then went to see the queen and solemnly bid her farewell.
At the moment of parting... The Queen, expressing her reluctance to part, wished Jason a triumphant return: "May the gods protect you as you successfully obtain the Golden Fleece; if you return, the gates here will always be open for you." Jason took this to heart, leading his crew aboard the Argo once more, sailing out to sea. The women of the Land of Women stood on the sea cliffs, watching the black sail disappear into the distance.
Amidst the echoing waves, the Argo gradually drifted away from the Land of Women, heading towards deeper unknowns. The tender farewell became an echoing incantation, while the storm of fate brewed ahead. Night fell, the sea lost its direction, and the heroes' songs became tinged with sorrow. The trials of the gods, the struggles of humanity, the shadows of love and betrayal—all would emerge in the darkness. Next episode—A Lament in the Night—let us listen to the voices of the Argo heroes and see how they search for a path to light in the darkness.
Thank you for listening to "Greek Mythology Gods." In the next episode, we will continue our journey into the fantastical world of ancient Greek mythology. The legends of the gods continue, and we look forward to seeing you again!
For further reading, you can refer to the following:
Phrixus- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrixus
Aeetes- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ae%C3%ABtes
Hypsipyle- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypsipyle
If you’d like to dive deeper beyond the stories, you can also explore sculptures inspired by these myths here: