The Golden Fleece by Herbert Draper - Essay Example

The first part is how the Golden Fleece came about and came to be hung in the woods in what today is modern Georgia, along the Black Sea coast. The second part is how Jason and the Argonauts searched for the Golden Fleece. The last of the second part of the story is what The Golden Fleece by Herbert Draper depicts. The second part of the story, beginning with Jason’s quest of the Golden Fleece is what will be examined. Jason’s father, Aeson, was king until Pelias stole the throne, killing all of Aeson’s descendants, but Jason.

Jason was spared because his mother faked he was stillborn. Upon his return to the city, Jason was singled out because of a lost sandal. An oracle had told Pelias to beware of the man with only one sandal. Pelias wanted to kill Jason outright, but instead offered the option for Jason to go on the quest for the Golden Fleece (Colum, 13-14). Jason accepted taking a band of men on a ship called the Agro, thus they were known as the Argonauts. After many trials and tribulations, Jason arrived in Colchis.

King Aeetes greeted them, but refused to give them the Golden Fleece unless Jason passed three tasks (Saberhagen, 174-176). Jason despairs, until Medea, King Aeetes daughter agrees to help him. Medea had fallen madly in love with Jason, because of Cupid or Eros’ arrow. Medea agrees to help Jason will all the tasks. The first task is use fire breathing oxen to plow a field. Jason would have to yoke the oxen himself (Apollonius of Rhodes, 88). Medea gave Jason some ointment to prevent severe burns.

The ointment even protected Jason from the oxen’s flames. Jason would have burned to death without Medea’s help. The second task was to sow the field with the teeth of dragon. The crop sprouted into a massive army of warriors instantaneously (Apollonius of Rhodes, 88). Medea once again came to Jason’s rescue, by telling him how to defeat the warriors. She instructed Jason to throw a