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Figures in the ancient sources

Golden Fleece in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Golden Fleece

5 passages from 3 ancient authors that tell of Golden Fleece, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. The Golden Fleece was the fleece of the golden ram that was held in Colchis, and the object of desire for Jason, who organised an expedition with the ... For the story in one place, read our article on Golden Fleece.

Apollonius Rhodius (3)

  1. Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1.1–121Pelias' oracle and the catalogue of the ArgonautsThe poet invokes Phoebus and tells how Pelias, warned by an oracle to beware the man with one sandal, sends Jason after the Golden Fleece when Jason loses a sandal crossing the Anaurus. The catalogue of the Argonauts begins with Orpheus and goes on through Asterion, Polyphemus, Admetus, Mopsus, Peleus and Telamon and Tiphys, who steers the ship Athena and Argus built. It closes with Phlias and the sons of Bias from Argos.
  2. Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4.92–211Jason takes the Golden FleeceJason swears to marry Medea, and they go to the grove of Ares, where Medea charms the sleepless serpent with her spells. Jason takes the Fleece from the oak, and the two return to the ship, where he tells the heroes they must set sail at once.
  3. Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4.1124–1227The marriage of Jason and Medea in Macris' caveJason and Medea are married that night in the sacred cave of Macris, with the Golden Fleece spread on the couch. At dawn Alcinous declares his judgement that the marriage stands, the Colchians ask to stay on the island, and the Argonauts leave with gifts from Alcinous and Arete.

Ovid (1)

  1. Ovid, Metamorphoses 7.1–158Jason and MedeaThe Argonauts, after freeing King Phineus from the Harpies, reach Colchis, and Jason demands the Golden Fleece from King Aeetes, who sets him impossible tasks. Medea, the king's daughter, falls in love with the stranger, torn between love and duty, and at last gives way, deciding to save him if he will swear to marry her. She gives him a charm to protect him against the fire-breathing bulls, and he yokes them, ploughs the field, sows the dragon's teeth, and kills the armed men that spring from them by throwing a stone among them. Medea then lulls the dragon to sleep, and Jason takes the fleece and sails away with her to Iolcus.

Strabo (1)

  1. Strabo, Geography 11.2.17–19Colchis: the Phasis and the Golden FleeceStrabo describes Colchis, its river Phasis, its fortress Sarapana and its products, and the temple of Leucothea founded by Phrixus. The fables of Jason's expedition and of Phrixus are said to show how famous the country once was, and the king Mithridates Eupator ruled it through governors. Among the Soanes of the Caucasus, winter torrents are said to bring down gold, which the barbarians catch in fleeces, and the fable of the golden fleece is derived from this.