This map follows the legendary voyage of Jason and the Argonauts, one of the great epic tales of Greek mythology. Their journey, dating back to traditions of the late Bronze and early Iron Ages but best preserved in the Argonautica (3rd century BCE) by Apollonius of Rhodes, traces the expedition from Iolcus in Thessaly to Colchis on the Black Sea and back. It is a hero’s quest filled with trials, love, betrayal, and divine intervention, blending seafaring adventure with mythic symbolism.
The Argonauts, fifty heroes named for their ship, the Argo, set out under Jason, who sought the Golden Fleece, a ram’s hide with golden wool guarded in Colchis. Along their route across the ancient Mediterranean and Black Sea, they encountered a fantastical array of challenges: harpies tormenting King Phineus, the deadly clashing rocks (Symplegades), the mesmerizing Sirens, and the bronze giant Talos of Crete. Central to the story is Jason’s fateful partnership with Medea, daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, who aids him with her magic to steal the fleece but whose later betrayal and vengeance bring tragedy. With themes of ambition, loyalty, love, and revenge, the Argonautica became one of the foundational myths of Greek epic, prefiguring elements later echoed in Homeric and tragic traditions.
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Cite This Work
APA Style
Netchev, S. (2022, August 02). Map of the Quest of Jason and the Argonauts. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16219/map-of-the-quest-of-jason-and-the-argonauts/
Chicago Style
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of the Quest of Jason and the Argonauts." World History Encyclopedia, August 02, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16219/map-of-the-quest-of-jason-and-the-argonauts/.
MLA Style
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of the Quest of Jason and the Argonauts." World History Encyclopedia, 02 Aug 2022, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16219/map-of-the-quest-of-jason-and-the-argonauts/.
