Term 2 - Lec 10 (Jason) Flashcards
Which stories describe the story of Jason?
How does each depict Jason?
Pindar’s Pythian 4
- features a noble Jason
- poet hired by rich people to tell their victories at athletic games (“Epinicians”)
- about the Argonauts voyage
Euripides’ tragedy Medea
- the end of Jason/Medea marriage
Apollonius of Rhode’s Argonautica
- more of a romantic love story (hero is the slave of love)
- Argonauts voyage
Where is Iolcus?
- in Thessaly
- east coast of Peloponnesia
Who was the King at Iolcus? Who were his descendants?
- Aeolus (wind god?)
- 2 generations later: two sons named Aeson and Pelias
- Aeson –> Jason
Which divine figure was Jason descended from?
Who was his father
- Aeolus, a wind god?
- Aeson
What was the early threat faced by Jason?
- Aeson was driven from the throne by Pelias
- infant Jason was sent away to be protected
Who was Jason educated by and where?
- by centaur Chiron
- in the countryside
What was the prophecy that Pelias received?
How did this come true?
= a youth with a single sandal would overthrow him
- Jason comes of age and goes to Iolcus
- he helps Hera disguised as an old lady to cross the river (wins her favour)
- loses a sandal
- Pelias sees this and sends him to get the Golden Fleece to try and get rid of him in fear
What is the golden fleece? Where did it originate from?
= from a magical flying ram that carried Phrixus and Helle (children of a minor goddess) to safety when they were fleeing from their evil stepmother in Greece
- Helle fell into the sea –> “Hellespont”
(ETIOLOGICAL STORY)
- Phrixus settled in Colchis, sacrificed the ram to Poseidon and the fleece was hung in a tree guarded by a dragon
What does the golden fleece represent?
What does Colchis represent?
- token of kingship and authority if Jason can get it
- farthest ends of the known world
Describe the Royal House at Colchis
- Helios (sun) –> Pasiphae, Aeetes, Circe
- Aeetes –> Medea and Asbyrtus
- Pasiphae –> Ariadne and Phaedra and Minotaur
How is Jason’s adventures different than normal heroes?
- he completes them with the help of a whole bunch of people instead of just one bff or gf
What is the Argo? Which heroes were part of the Argonauts?
- Argo = first ship built (with Athena’s help)
- Argonauts: Heracles, Theseus, Orpheus, fathers of Trojan heroes etc.
Who was Medea?
= daughter of King Aeetes
- “Me” = cunning/intelligent
- fell in love with Greek Jason (with the interference of Hera and Aphrodite)
- has magical powers
In which ways does Medea assist Jason?
- used powers to help Jason with the tasks given to him be Aeetes:
yoking of bulls, sowing dragon’s teeth, battle with army of sown men - helped get past the dragon guard by drugging/poisoning it
How do Jason and Medea escape?
- back on the Argo, takes Asbyrtus and Aeete’s navy with them
- Aeetes is pursuing
- Medea chops Asbyrtus into little pieces and into the sea
- pursuers stop to pick up the pieces for burial ceremony
How are Medea and Ariadne alike?
- both kill a brother to help the hero (i.e. Minotaur and Asbyrtus)
What happens when they return to Iolcus?
- give Fleece to Pelias
- Pelias still doesn’t want to give the throne
How is Pelias killed?
- Medea shows daughters of Pelias the old ram into a lamb in her pot trick
- tells them they can do this to their father
- the daughters with loving intentions boil Pelias over a pot
What happens after the death of Pelias? Why?
- Jason and Medea flee to Corinth
- they can’t rule and stay there anymore because Medea used magic and deceit to kill the king
What happens in Euripides’ Medea?
- Jason plans to take Greek bride (princes of Corinth)
- Medea kills her and her own 2 children with magic
- destroys Jason’s chance for power + offspring
How does Medea escape after the murders?
- made arrangements for refuge with King Aegeus of Athens previously
- becomes Queen of Athens
- interacts with Theseus
How does Jason die?
- killed by falling plank of the rotting Argo
Why does Jason die?
as a hero in the Greek patriarchy, he is very over involved with foreign female powers
