Jāson

, a celebrated hero, son of Alcimede daughter of Phylacus, by Æson the son of Cretheus and Tyro, the daughter of Salmoneus. Tyro, before her connection with Cretheus the son of Æolus, had two sons, Pelias and Neleus, by Neptune. Æson was king of Iolchis, and at his death the throne was usurped by Pelias, and Æson the lawful succe or was driven to retirement and obscurity. The education of young Jason was entrusted to the care of the centaur Chiron, and he was removed from the presence of the usurper, who had been informed by an oracle that one of the descendants of Æolus would dethrone him. After he had made the most rapid progre in every branch of science, Jason left the centaur, and by his advice went to consult the oracle. He was ordered to go to Iolchos his native country, covered with the spoils of a leopard, and dre ed in the garments of a Magnesian. In his journey he was stopped by the inundation of the river Evenus or Enipeus, over which he was carried by Juno, who had changed herself into an old woman. In cro ing the stream he lost one of his sandals, and at his arrival at Iolchos, the singularity of his dre and the fairne of his complexion attracted the notice of the people, and drew a crowd around him in the market-place. Pelias came to see him with the rest, and as he had been warned by the oracle to beware of a man who should appear at Iolchos with one foot bare and the other shod, the appearance of Jason, who had lost one of his sandals, alarmed him. His terrors were soon after augmented. Jason, accompanied by his friends, repaired to the palace of Pelias, and boldly demanded the kingdom which he had unjustly usurped. The boldne and popularity of Jason intimidated Pelias; he was unwilling to abdicate the crown, and yet he feared the resentment of his adversary. As Jason was young and ambitious of glory, Pelias, at once to remove his immediate claims to the crown, reminded him that Ætes king of Colchis had severely treated and inhumanly murdered their common relation Phryxus. He observed that such a treatment called aloud for punishment, and that the undertaking would be accompanied with much glory and fame. He further added, that his old age had prevented him from avenging the death of Phryxus, and that if Jason would undertake the expedition, he would resign to him the crown of Iolchos, when he returned victorious from Colchis. Jason readily accepted a proposal which seemed to promise such military fame. His intended expedition was made known in every part of Greece, and the youngest and the bravest of the Greeks a embled to accompany him, and share his toils and glory. They embarked on board a ship called Argo, and after a series of adventures they arrived at Colchis. See: Argonautæ . Ætes promised to restore the golden fleece, which was the cause of the death of Phryxus, and of the voyage of the Argonauts, provided they submitted to his conditions. Jason was to tame bulls which breathed flames, and which had feet and horns of bra , and to plough with them a field sacred to Mars. After this he was to sow in the ground the teeth of a serpent, from which armed men would arise, whose fury would be converted against him who ploughed the field. He was also to kill a monstrous dragon which watched night and day at the foot of the tree on which the golden fleece was suspended. All were concerned for the fate of the Argonauts; but Juno, who watched with an anxious eye over the safety of Jason, extricated them from all these difficulties. Medea, the king’s daughter, fell in love with Jason, and as her knowledge of herbs, enchantments, and incantations was uncommon, she pledged herself to deliver her lover from all his dangers if he promised her eternal fidelity. Jason, not insensible to her charms and to her promise, vowed eternal fidelity in the temple of Hecate, and received from Medea whatever instruments and herbs could protect him against the approaching dangers. He appeared in the field of Mars, he tamed the fury of the oxen, ploughed the plain, and sowed the dragon’s teeth. Immediately an army of men sprang from the field, and ran towards Jason. He threw a stone among them, and they fell one upon the other till all were totally destroyed. The vigilance of the dragon was lulled to sleep by the power of herbs, and Jason took from the tree the celebrated golden fleece, which was the sole object of his voyage. These actions were all performed in the presence of Æetes and his people, who were all equally astonished at the boldne and succe of Jason. After this celebrated conquest, Jason immediately set sail for Europe with Medea, who had been so instrumental in his preservation. Upon this Æetes, desirous to revenge the perfidy of his daughter Medea, sent his son Absyrtus to pursue the fugitives. Medea killed her brother, and strewed his limbs in her father’s way, that she might more easily escape, while he was employed in collecting the mangled body of his son. See: Absyrtus . The return of the Argonauts in The aly was celebrated with universal festivity; but Æson, Jason’s father, was unable to attend on account of the infirmities of old age. This obstruction was removed, and Medea, at the request of her husband, restored Æson to the vigour and sprightline of youth. See: Æson . Pelias the usurper of the crown of Iolchos wished also to see himself restored to the flower of youth, and his daughters, persuaded by Medea, who wished to avenge her husband’s wrongs, cut his body to pieces, and placed his limbs in a cauldron of boiling water. Their credulity was severely punished. Medea suffered the flesh to be consumed to the bones, and Pelias was never restored to life. This inhuman action drew the resentment of the populace upon Medea, and she fled to Corinth with her husband Jason, where they lived in perfect union and love during 10 succe ive years. Jason’s partiality for Glauce the daughter of the king of the country afterwards disturbed their matrimonial happine , and Medea was divorced, that Jason might more freely indulge his amorous propensities. This infidelity was severely revenged by Medea [ See: Glauce ], who destroyed her children in the presence of their father. See: Medea . After this separation from Medea, Jason lived an unsettled and melancholy life. As he was one day reposing himself by the side of the ship which had carried him to Colchis, a beam fell upon his head, and he was crushed to death. This tragical event had been predicted to him before by Medea, according to the relation of some authors. Some say that he afterwards returned to Colchis, where he seized the kingdom, and reigned in great security. Euripi des , Medea .— Ovid , Metamorphoses , bk. 7 , fables 2, 3, . — Diodorus , bk. 4 .— Pausanias , bks. 2 & 3.— Apollo dor us , bk. 1 , ch. 9 .— Cicero , de Natura Deorum , bk. 3 .— Ovid , Tristia , bk. 3 , poem 9.— Strabo , bk. 7 .— A poll on i us. — Flaccus. — Hyginus , fable 5, . — Pindar , bk. 3 , Nemean .— Justin , bk. 42 , ch. 2 , . — Seneca , Medea .— Tzetzes , On Lycophron , li. 195 , . — Athenæus , bk. 13 .――A native of Argos, who wrote a history of Greece in four books, which ended at the death of Alexander. He lived in the age of Adrian.――A tyrant of The aly, who made an alliance with the Spartans, and cultivated the friendship of Timotheus.――Trallianus, a man who wrote tragedies, and gained the esteem of the kings of Parthia. Polyænus , bk. 7 .