Saturday, November 16, 2013

Jason and the Golden Fleece

So this is one LONG story but here a goes...once upon a time Jason, whose father was killed by his uncle who then took the throne, was raised by a centaur named Cheiron in the mountains so he would be safe from harm. When Jason turned twenty, he returned to his homeland to reclaim his father's throne. On the way to the court, he met Hera who was disguised as an old woman and offered to take her across a river losing a sandal in the process. Eventually he meets his uncle Pelias from whom he demands the throne, but Pelias poses a challenge to Jason to prove his worth. Pelias requires Jason to get the Golden Fleece in a land called Colchis far, far away from Greece. Desperate to repair his family's honor, Jason agrees and assembles the greatest team of warriors ever seen in history sailing aboard the Argo giving them their name of the Argonauts. After many adventures around Greece and Asia Minor, Jason and the Argonauts arrived in Colchis where Jason asked the king to give him the Fleece because it belonged to his ancestors. In turn, the king gives Jason a series of seemingly impossible tasks that Jason completes with the help of his new wife, the sorceress Medea, who was the daughter of the king. Winning the fleece, the couple return to Greece claiming the throne, but the locals are uncomfortable with Medea's magical powers expelling Jason and Medea from the kingdom (talk about xenophobia...). Living in exile in Corinth, the king of Corinth offers Jason his daughter in marriage despite the fact that he is already married to Medea (what a jerk, right?). A furious Medea kills the woman and Jason's children moving to Mount Olympus where she marries Achilles (nice exit, Medea). After Medea's departure, Jason returns to his former kingdom where the Argo is on display. Weeping at the base of the boat, Jason was killed by the fall of a rotted beam.

We all make promises to one another and cheating on one's spouse is completely unacceptable, especially when he/she helps retrieve the key to a kingdom. From this story, the audience can gather that Jason's poor choices and abandonment of Medea in wake of the new girl in town leads to downfall (as in all Greek tragedies, death). While it may not always be easy, be faithful!




Just a little vengeful?...at least she married up...


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