Argonauts

in the legends of Greece, a band of Greek adventurers. They were so called from their ship, Argo, in which they sailed from Iolcos in Thessaly to distant Colchis, somewhere on the unknown shores of the Black Sea. Jason, the leader of the expedition, associated with himself fifty daring spirits of his neighborhood, including Hercules, Castor and Pollux, Orpheus, Telamon, Theseus, and others. Their errand was to bring home the golden fleece which hung in a consecrated grove at Colchis, guarded by a dragon. Their numerous adventures would fill quite a volume if related in detail. Pollux distinguished himself in a boxing contest in which he overpowered King Amycus and bound him to a tree. Two of the party slew the harpies that polluted the food of the blinded and aged king Phineas, who, in return, told the way to Colchis. They had to go between the cliffs that had an inconvenient habit of closing up and crushing whoever sought to pass. This passage the band accomplished by sending a dove in advance. Orpheus played his most entrancing tunes on a lyre, while the others rowed with all their might. The rocks were so enchanted that they stood firm on their base, unable to move until the party had escaped. Arriving finally at Colchis, Jason, the leader, found a friend in Medea, the daughter of King Aetes. The king agreed to deliver up the golden fleece on condition that Jason should perform three dangerous labors. First, he was required to yoke to a plow two fire-breathing bulls with hoofs of brass, and to plow the field of Mars. Next, he sowed the field with dragons' teeth from which armed men sprang up. These he overcame one by one. Medea assisted him with the third task by giving the dragon a soothing draught. Jason slew the dragon, received the fleece, and set out on his return, accompanied, it is needless to say, by the princess. After various additional adventures, including the escape from her father, who pursued the retreating band, the Argonauts returned safely home.

It has been suggested that some commercial enterprise, possibly an expedition to open a new avenue of commerce, possibly to meet the caravans of Asia, may be at the foundation of the legend. The term argonauts has been applied since to various bodies of adventurers, especially to the "Argonauts of '49," or "The Fortyniners," the early seekers of gold in California.