Jason

in Grecian legend the leader of the Argonautic expedition. Jason was the son of Aeson, a king of Thessaly. Aeson became tired of his responsibilities and gave up the kingdom to his brother, Pelias, on condition that he would yield it to Jason when he became old enough to reign. When Jason was grown, he demanded his rights. Pelias was unwilling to yield the crown, but he was a wily individual and laid plans for getting rid of Jason. He told the young man that he was ready to give up the kingdom, but that it would be much wiser if he, Jason, should perform some deed of valor by which he could win wealth and fame before he settled down to the duties of ruling. Pelias suggested an expedition in search of the golden fleece, which he said was in Colchis on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. Jason thought well of his master's plan and fitted out an expedition. Argus built him a ship that would hold fifty men. It was named the Argo. The Argonauts reached Colchis safely. The king of that country consented to give up the golden fleece if Jason would yoke two fire-breathing, brass-footed bulls to the plough and sow the teeth of the dragon which Cadmus had slain. This Jason accomplished by the aid of Medea, the king's daughter. She was a sorceress and gave him a charm by which he overcame the bulls. When he had sowed the teeth, armed men sprang up from the furrow. They attacked Jason, but another of Medea's charms set them fighting among themselves until all were destroyed. With still another charm, the dragon which guarded the golden fleece was put to sleep, and Jason seized the prize and escaped taking Medea with him as his wife. The sowing of the dragon's teeth by Jason is only another version of a story told usually in connection with Cadmus. Jason was not very happy with Medea. She restored his father to youth by her enchantments, but she slew his uncle. Jason finally deserted her for another. Medea, in rage at his unfaithfulness, killed her children, set fire to the palace, and departed never to return. Jason, according to some accounts, killed himself soon after. Another version of the story is that he lost life accidentally.

See Cadmus