Jason and the Argonauts

4.18.2007

Apollodorous

• wrote a summary of Greek myths in 2nd cen. CE.– i.e., prose not poetry. refers, however, to all

manner of texts (histories, mythographies, tragedies, archaic epics, etc.)

• Jason’s adventures occur BEFORE events in Iliad.– that doesn’t mean they were composed

before Homer; it just means they occur chronologically before the Trojan War.

Jason’s Genealogy

Jason’s Adventures

• runs into many of the same creatures that Odysseus encounters. Although Odysseus’ adventures occurred mostly in the eastern Mediterranean. So the mythical geography has changed significantly from Homer to Apollodorous (approx. 900 years apart).

Jason’s Adventures

• Iolcus • Lemnos (lesbians!)• Colchis

– bulls– dragon’s teeth– dragon, golden fleece

• Circe• Phaeacians• Sirens

• Scylla & Charybdis• Talos (bronze giant)• Medea resurrects

Aison, Jason kills Pelias

The Journey

Jason & Chiron

Athena overseas construction of the Argo

Jason attaches Dodona Branch to Argo

Jason yokes the bulls at Colchis

Medea puts dragon to sleep

Jason vs. Hydra (instead of dragon) for fleece on tree

Jason & Medea steal fleece

Jason with golden fleece

Talos (bronze colossus of Crete)

Jason presents fleece to Pelias

Medea rejuvenates Aison

Medea tricks Pelias & daughters

Medea escapes Corinth