(European mythology)

Legendary Greek hero and leader of the Argonauts, the stalwarts who sailed to Colchis in the ship Argo to seize the Golden Fleece. Jason crossed a sea of marvels, accomplished difficult tasks, circumvented the guardian dragon, and returned with the fleece and the power to topple a usurper. Part of this success was due to the magic of a Colchian princess, Medea, whom Jason made his wife, with assistance from the goddess Athena. Medea seems to have been associated with dismemberment. When the Argo hastened away with its prize, she suggested that they cut up her brother Apsyrtus and throw the bits overboard in order to slow down the swift pursuit of their father, King Aietes. This the Argonauts did, forcing the Colchians to gather up the remains for a decent burial. When the heroes returned to Greece, Medea persuaded the daughters of King Pelias of Iolcus to cut their father to pieces and boil him, so as to restore him to youth. This they did, with the expected consequence, and thereby avenged the death of Jason's own father.

After a few years Jason deserted Medea for Glauce, but the former wife was revenged by killing Glauce and their children. The hero himself died when a piece of the rotting Argo fell on his head. The myths collected around Jason are an amalgam of diverse elements: the hero's name, for instance, means ‘healer’ and suggests that he began as a rather different figure.

A Dictionary of World Mythology. Copyright © Arthur Cotterell 1979, 1986, 2003. All rights reserved.