James Baquet

    Another extremely well-known tale is the story of Jason and his crew, the “Argonauts,” in pursuit of the fleece of a golden ram.

    The story begins like that of many heroes: Because his father’s throne was usurped by his uncle Pelias, Jason grew up in obscurity. (In fact he was raised by the centaur Chiron, whom we see performing the same role for Percy Jackson in the series of popular books and movies.)

    When he came of age, Jason set out to recover his throne. Meanwhile, Pelias had angered Hera, queen of the Greek gods. After presenting Jason with a test both of strength and compassion, she decided to use him as a tool of her revenge.

    Arriving in his father’s former kingdom, Jason claimed the throne. But of course King Pelias had no intention of turning it over to this upstart stranger! Instead, he tricked Jason (who, it must be said, wasn’t terribly smart) into setting himself an impossible task: the recovery of the afore-mentioned “Golden Fleece.”

    Jason ordered a ship built, the “Argo,” and assembled a crew known as “the Argonauts.” (One of these was the famed demigod Hercules). After staying on an island of women, and saving a king from hideous women-headed birds called Harpies, Jason and the Argonauts sailed safely between two clashing rocks, using a strategy taught to them by the rescued king.

    At last they arrived in Colchis, where King Aeetes was the keeper of the Golden Fleece. With the aid of the king’s daughter Medea (who had fallen for Jason through the divine assistance of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love) Jason managed to perform a near-impossible feat: plowing a field with two monstrous bulls and sowing seeds (actually dragons’ teeth) that brought forth armed warriors — intent on killing Jason!

    But Medea (who was a sorceress) showed him how to turn the soldiers on each other, thus earning the Fleece — which Aeetes still had no intention of giving him. Instead, Medea helped him steal it from under the nose of sleeping dragon, and together they escaped on the Argo. Jason was later to abandon her, causing her to kill their children — but that’s another story!

    Vocabulary:

    Which word above means:

    1. coat of wool covering a sheep

    2. horribly ugly

    3. describing someone who pushes beyond his proper place

    4. act, usually one that is amazing

    5. half-man, half-horse

    6. placing (seeds) in the ground

    7. smashing together

    8. became old enough

    9. half-man, half-god

    10. woman with magical powers