Jason in Greek mythology, son of Aeson. When Pelias usurped the throne of Iolcus and killed (or imprisoned) Aeson and most of his descendants, Jason was smuggled off to the centaur Chiron , who reared him secretly on Mt. Pelion. Later Pelias promised Jason his rightful kingdom if he would bring the Golden Fleece to Boeotia. Jason assembled Greece's bravest heroes and together they sailed in the Argo in quest of the fleece. On their journey the Argonauts were seduced by beautiful women, attacked by warriors, buffeted by storms, and challenged by monstrous creatures. Finally the blind prophet Phineus told them how to make their way safely to Colchis , where the Golden Fleece was kept. When they arrived there, King Aeëtes demanded that before Jason take the fleece he yoke together two fire-breathing bulls, plow the field of Ares, and sow it with dragon's teeth obtained from Cadmus . Aeëtes' daughter Medea fell in love with Jason and gave him magical protection that allowed him to complete the tasks. In return Jason swore an oath of fidelity and promised to take her with him to Greece. When Aeëtes still refused to relinquish the fleece, Medea revealed its hiding place and drugged the guardian dragon. The Argonauts then fled Colchis with the fleece, pursued by Aeëtes. But Medea killed and cut to pieces his son Absyrtus, scattering the parts of his body in the sea. Aeëtes stopped to retrieve them. In another version, Absyrtus led the pursuit and, when Medea tricked him into an ambush, was killed by Jason.

Jason and Medea stopped to be purified of the murder by Circe at Aeaea, and there they were married. When they returned to Iolcus they found that Pelias had continued his tyrannical rule. Medea persuaded Pelias that he could be rejuvenated by having pieces of his body boiled in a magical brew. She then convinced his daughters that they should perform the task of cutting up their father. Pelias was thus murdered by his innocent daughters. Jason seized the city, but he and Medea were expelled by Acastus , the son of Pelias.

They sailed on to Orchomenses in Boeotia, where they hung the fleece in a temple. Then they went to Corinth. There Medea had rights to the throne, and Jason reigned for many years. But he forgot his oath and tried to divorce Medea so that he could marry Creusa, daughter of King Creon. In revenge, Medea, by magic and trickery, burned to death both the father and daughter. Because Jason had broken his oath, the gods caused him to wander homeless for many years. As an old man he returned to Corinth, where, resting in the shadow of the Argo, he was killed when the prow toppled over on him. The story of Jason and Medea appears frequently in literature, most notably in Euripides.

Jason ♂ English form of the Greek name Iasōn, borne in classical mythology by a hero, leader of the Argonauts, who sailed to Colchis in search of the Golden Fleece, enduring many hardships and adventures. The sorceress Medea fell in love with him and helped him to obtain the Fleece; they escaped together and should have lived happily ever after. However, Jason fell in love with another woman and deserted Medea. Medea took her revenge by killing her rival, but Jason himself survived to be killed in old age by one of the rotting timbers of his ship, the Argo, falling on his head. The classical Greek name Iasōn probably derives from Greek iasthai ‘to heal’. In New Testament Greek, the name probably represents a classicized form of Joshua. It was borne by an early Christian in Thessalonica, at whose house St Paul stayed (Acts 17:5–9; Romans 16:21). Probably for this reason, it enjoyed some use among the Puritans in the 16th and 17th centuries. The name has been used for various characters in films and television series, and in the mid-20th century it enjoyed a sudden burst of popularity, although it was also the subject of some rather surprising hostility. Among popular non-fictional bearers of the name are the film actor Jason Robards (1922–2000), his father (1893–1963), also a film actor, and, more recently, the Australian actor Jason Donovan (b. 1968).

Variant: Jayson.

Jason

In Greek mythology, Jason was the leader of a band of adventurers who set out on a long journey to find the Golden Fleece*. Although he succeeded in this quest, he never achieved his true goal—to become king of the land of Iolcus. Jason's story is one of violence and tragedy as well as adventure, partly because of his relationship with the enchantress and witch Medea.

Background to the Quest. Like many Greek heroes, Jason was of royal blood. His father was King Aeson of Iolcus in northwestern Greece. The king's half brother Pelias wanted the throne himself and overthrew Aeson while Jason was still a boy Jason's mother feared for his safety. She sent him away to be guarded by Chiron, a wise centaur who took charge of the boy's education. Chiron taught Jason hunting and warfare, music and medicine. Some accounts say that the centaur also gave Jason his name, which means "healer," in recognition of the boy's skill in the medical arts.

At about the age of 20, Jason headed back to Iolcus, determined to gain the throne that rightfully belonged to him. On the way, he helped an old woman across a flooded stream and lost one of his sandals. Unknown to him, the old woman was the goddess Hera* in disguise. She vowed to destroy Pelias, who had failed to worship her properly, and to help Jason.

An oracle had warned Pelias to beware of a man wearing one sandal. When Jason arrived in Iolcus, the king confronted him. Jason identified himself and declared that he had come for his throne. Prevented by the laws of hospitality from attacking Jason openly, Pelias resorted to trickery. He said that if Jason could bring him the fabled Golden Fleece, he would make him his heir. Pelias believed that obtaining the heavily guarded fleece from the distant land of Colchis was a nearly impossible task.

centaur half-human, half-animal creature with the body of a horse and the head, chest, and arms of a human

oracle priest or priestess or other creature through whom a god is believed to speak; also the location (such as a shrine) where such words are spoken

The Quest. Jason assembled a band of brave adventurers—including the sons of kings and gods and some other former students of Chiron—to accompany him in his quest. They sailed in a magic ship called the Argo and were known as the Argonauts. Among them were the famous musician Orpheus* and the demigod hero Hercules*.

The Argonauts' eventful journey to Colchis, their seizure of the Golden Fleece, and their long voyage home became the subject of many tales and works of art. They might never have succeeded without the help of Medea, the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, who fell in love with Jason. Some versions of the story say that Hera persuaded Aphrodite, the goddess of love, to inspire Medea's passion. Both a clever woman and a witch with knowledge of magic, Medea would be a useful helpmate to Jason.

demigod one who is part human and part god

When Jason arrived in Colchis, Aeëtes set harsh conditions for handing over the Golden Fleece, including the accomplishment of several seemingly impossible tasks. Jason had to yoke two fire-breathing bulls to a plow, sow a field with dragons' teeth, and then fight the armed warriors that grew from those teeth. In all these trials, Medea used her magic powers to protect and guide

* See Names and Places at the end of this volume for further information.

Jason. Then after Jason promised to marry her, she helped him steal the fleece from the serpent that guarded it.

With the fleece on board, the Argo sailed away from Colchis, pursued by Medea's brother Apsyrtus. Apsyrtus caught up with the ship and spoke with Jason, promising to let him keep the Golden Fleece if he would give up Medea. However, Medea objected to this plan. When she and Jason next met Apsyrtus, Jason killed him.

Return to Iolcus. After a long journey home with many adventures along the way, Jason and the Argonauts finally arrived back in Iolcus. Jason delivered the Golden Fleece to Pelias. Meanwhile, Medea decided to get rid of Pelias (accounts differ on whether Jason knew of her plan). She persuaded the king's daughters that she could make their father young again, but first they would have to cut him up and put him in a pot. This procedure led only to a messy death, and the horrified people of Iolcus drove Jason and Medea away. The couple settled in Corinth, where they lived for ten years and had several children.

Their peaceful interlude ended when Creon, the king of Corinth, offered Jason his daughter in marriage. Jason accepted and divorced Medea. Enraged at this shabby treatment, Medea sent the new bride a poisoned wedding gown, which killed her when she put it on and killed Creon as he tried to save her. Some versions of this myth say that, to punish Jason still further, Medea went on to kill the children she had borne him, while other accounts say that the angry Corinthians killed them. Either way, the children perished and Medea fled to Athens.

According to some accounts, Medea killed Jason at Corinth as part of her bloodbath. Much more common, though, is the story that Jason lived out his last days at Corinth, alone and broken by tragedy. One day as he sat near the Argo, which was rotting away, a piece of wood broke off from the ship and fell on him, killing the one-time hero of the Golden Fleece.

See also Argonauts; GOLDEN FLEECE; GREEK MYTHOLOGY; Medea.

Jason in Greek mythology, the son of the king of Iolcos in Thessaly, and leader of the Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece, during which Jason has to perform such tasks as yoking a pair of fire-breathing bulls for ploughing, and sowing the dragon's teeth of Cadmus, from which spring up armed men. Assisted by the sorceress Medea, whom he marries, he is successful in his quest, but later when he deserts her for Creusa, daughter of the king of Corinth, Medea takes vengeance by killing the princess as well as her own children by Jason.

Jason In Greek mythology, Jason was leader of the Argonauts, who fetched the golden fleece. It became a common Hellenistic name and was even used by Greek-speaking Jews as the equivalent of Hebrew Joshua. A Jewish high priest called Jason is mentioned in 2 Macc. 4: 7 ff., and in Acts 17: 5–9 a Jason was Paul's host in Thessalonica, and perhaps was with him at Corinth (Rom. 16: 21).

Jason In Greek mythology, hero and leader of the Argonauts. Sent on a quest for the Golden Fleece, Jason sailed aboard the Argo. After surviving many perils, he found the fleece in Colchis and stole it, with the help of the sorceress Medea, whom he married.

Jason in the New Testament. 1 St. Paul's host at Thessalonica. 2 Companion of Paul at Corinth, perhaps the same as 1.

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