Jason & the Argonauts sailed to the Black Sea for the Fleece of the Ram

“Voyage to Colchis” Jason and the Argonauts sail across the ancient seas aboard the grand ship Argo, approaching the rugged, misty shores of Colchis. Towering cliffs and enchanted forests frame the sunset-drenched horizon, as myth and destiny call them toward their epic prize.

Prelude: The GOLDEN RAM

To win the crown of Iolcus in N. Greece, JASON & the crew of the Argo rowed & sailed to the west coast of the Black Sea for the FLEECE of the ram his Uncle PHRIXUS rode to King AIETES at COLCHIS.*

To win the crown of Iolcus in N. Greece, JASON & the crew of the Argo rowed & sailed to the west coast of the Black Sea for the FLEECE of the ram his Uncle PHRIXUS* rode to King AIETES at COLCHIS**

By Sasha Alex Lessin, Ph.D. (Anthropology, UCLA)

For more on ancient Greek History & “gods” conflated with Sumer’s, click https://wp.me/s1TVCy-greece With our modern understanding of so-called “myth” as our ancestors’ descriptions and metaphors of technological devices, we might paraphrase our title as JASON sought THE FLEECE of the “golden” [yellow?] Ram [aircraft?], his uncle Phrixus, had flown to King Aeetes at Colchis on the east coast of the Black Sea.

**“Jason and the Golden Fleece”** In a mystical glade deep in the forests of Colchis, Jason stands before the legendary Golden Fleece. The fleece shimmers with otherworldly light, draped upon a sacred oak, as Jason, armed and resolute, prepares to fulfill his quest under the gaze of ancient magic.

IOLCUS’ KING PELIAS–JASON’S UNCLE, USURPED IOLCUS’ THRONE FROM & JAILED JASON’S FATHER, AESON

Pelias, whose father was Enki (in Enki’s Greek persona as Poseidon), was Aeson’s half-brother on his mother’s side. Pelias told Aeson, Though our mother bore you first, my father’s divinity gives me precedence over you, and I, not you, should be Iolocus’ Monarch. Pelias gained supporters and blocked his mellow, nonassertive brother, jailed him, and got him to renounce his claim to the Throne.

**“The Usurpation at Iolcus”** In the sunlit courtyard of the ancient palace of Iolcus, Pelias, clad in noble armor adorned with the trident of Poseidon, asserts his claim to the throne. Behind him, his supporters rally, while Aeson, clothed in simple royal robes, faces him with sorrow and quiet dignity. Olive trees and stone columns bear silent witness to the tragic shift of power.

**“Brothers Divided: Pelias and Aeson”** Face to face, Pelias and Aeson embody two fates. Pelias’ proud, commanding gaze contrasts with Aeson’s mournful but serene expression. In their confrontation, the divine arrogance of a son of Poseidon overpowers the gentle spirit of his elder brother, sealing the fate of the kingdom of Iol

Pelias asked Apollo’s Priestess if anyone threatened his Throne. She said he would rule Iolocus for a long time, until a man wearing only one sandal would dethrone him. From then on, Pelias would stare at his feet whenever he met a new man instead of looking him in the eye to see if he was the enemy who would dethrone him.

**“The Prophecy of the One-Sandaled Man”** Before the grand temple of Apollo, Pelias receives a dire warning from the priestess: his rule over Iolcus would last only until a man wearing a single sandal arrived. The Mediterranean light bathes the sacred space as Pelias, normally proud and powerful, begins his descent into fear and suspicion.

**“Fearful Omens: Pelias and the Priestess”** In a tense close-up, Pelias’ proud face twists into anxious paranoia as he looks down at his own feet, haunted by the prophecy just spoken by the serene, otherworldly Priestess of Apollo. Their encounter marks the first crack in Pelias’ reign and the beginning of his obsession with his doom.

Aeson’s wife bore Jason, a son whom Aeson feared Pelias would kill. Aeson sent the newborn to the Centaur [top half man, bottom half horse] CHIRON in the mountains of Thrace. They did not tell Jason that Aeson was his father.

Chiron taught Jason the art of hunting and weapons skills. Jason killed a leopard and wore its skin as a cloak.

When Jason turned 20, Chiron revealed that he was entitled to Iolocus’s Throne and should fight for it.

Jason came to a flowing stream. An old woman on the bank asked him for help because she could not make the crossing. Jason carried the woman on his back, and the two reached the other bank safely, but as they were leaving the water, Jason realized that the current had swept away one of his sandals.

**“Jason’s Act of Kindness at the River”** In a sun-dappled forest, young Jason bravely carries a frail old woman across a rushing stream, unaware of her true identity. With his humble strength and compassion, he unknowingly wins the favor of the gods and takes his first step toward fulfilling his destiny.

**“Revelation: Hera’s Blessing”** As they leave the riverbank, Jason turns in awe as the frail woman transforms before his eyes into the radiant goddess Hera. Her warm, divine gaze and his humble astonishment seal a pact of favor, ensuring divine protection on his perilous quest for the crown of Iolcus.

He saw the woman change into the beautiful goddess HERA, Zeus’s wife. She’d disguised herself as an old woman to test his goodness. Because of his kindness, Jason could count on her blessings in his quest for Iolocus’s Crown.

**“The Blessing of Hera: A Hero’s Divine Ally”** Bathed in golden light, the goddess Hera stands revealed in magnificent splendor, her flowing gown adorned with intricate ancient patterns. Jason, barefoot and humble, gazes in awe as Hera promises her divine favor. Amid the shimmering forest and sparkling river, Jason’s destiny to reclaim the crown of Iolcus is sealed by the queen of Olympus herself.

**“The Goddess Revealed: Hera Blesses Jason”** Bathed in divine radiance, Hera stands revealed in her full glory, blessing Jason for his compassion and bravery. Her golden hair and shining white gown glow beneath the ancient trees, while the river sparkles nearby. Jason stands barefoot and awestruck, witnessing the majesty of the queen of Olympus, sealing a bond that will protect him on his quest.

**“A Touch of Destiny: Hera’s Blessing”** In a tender, mythic moment, Hera gently touches Jason’s forehead, bestowing her divine favor upon the young hero. Jason closes his eyes in reverent acceptance, surrounded by the soft golden light of the gods. In this act of grace beneath the sacred trees, Jason’s fate as the future king of Iolcus is forever set.

When Jason arrived in Iolocus, news of the presence of a stranger wearing only one sandal reached King Pelias, who had Jason taken to him.

Jason told the King, I’m here in Iolocus for the Throne to which I, by my birth, am entitled. I seek no revenge, only the title, King. You may keep the wealth you’ve gained if you return the Royal Crown to me.

**“The Gaze of Fate: Jason and Pelias Face to Face”** In a charged moment at the gates of Iolcus, Jason — wearing only one sandal — meets King Pelias’ suspicious, calculating gaze. Beneath the grand stone columns, prophecy and ambition collide, as the young hero’s calm determination challenges the old king’s growing fear of destiny.

Pelias said, ‘Okay, we won’t fight if you prove worthy of the crown and return the fleece of the golden ram our ancestor Phrixus rode to Colchis on the Black Sea coast. ‘