The Adventures of JasonThe Adventures of Jason

The world’s weakest HeroThe world’s weakest Hero

CMM 10CMM 10

ProloguePrologue

• Phrixus & Helle escape the evil stepmother

• Helle names the “Hellespont”

• Phrixus hangs it up

Prologue (2)Prologue (2)

• Pelias drives out Aeson• Jason goes to live with Chiron• Pelias receives an oracle

Jason comes homeJason comes home

• An old woman at a swollen river

• Pelias gets Jason’s advice

• Jason recruits Argus & the Argonauts

Roll call for Heroes!Roll call for Heroes!

• Peleus (f. of Achilles)• Hercules• Castor & Pollux• Telamon (f. of Ajax)• Lynceus & Idas• Orpheus• Zetes & Calais (the

Boreades)

Early AdventuresEarly Adventures

• Lemnos (2) – Island of the smelly women!• Cyzicus (5) – There & back again!• Cius (6) – What happened to Hercules?• Bithynia & Amycus (7)

Phineus & the HarpiesPhineus & the Harpies

• Phineus’ “sees”, but doesn’t see

• Phineus can’t get a decent meal

• The Boreades help out

• Phineus warns the Argonauts about the Symplegades

TheThe SymplegadesSymplegades

Arrival at ColchisArrival at Colchis

• Hera & Athena scheme to help the Argonauts

• Aphrodite bribes Eros for help in the goddess’ scheme

• Jason plans to ask King Aeetes of Colchis for help

• Aeetes test the Argonauts & plans to kill them

The things we do for Love (1)The things we do for Love (1)

• The Argonauts urge Jason to get Medea’s help

• Medea’s dream & Chalciope’s advice

• Medea prepares a charm & meets Jason

The next day…The next day…

• Jason yokes the bulls & sows the dragon’s teeth

• Relations between the dragon-men get rocky!

In for a penny, in for a pound!In for a penny, in for a pound!

• Medea flees to Jason,• Gets his promise of

marriage• And helps him get the

fleece

A heinous crimeA heinous crime

• The Argonauts set sail, pursued by Absyrtus• Jason tricks, then kills Absyrtus

An alternate, just as heinous An alternate, just as heinous crimecrime

• The Argonauts flee with Absyrtus, chased by Aeetes

• Medea leaves a distraction…

Adventures on the way home…Adventures on the way home…

• Scylla & Charybdis• Sirens (thanks

Orpheus!)• Purification from Circe• & marriage in

Phaeacia• Talus, bronze giant of

Crete

A Map for all these shenanigans!A Map for all these shenanigans!

Meanwhile, back at the ranchMeanwhile, back at the ranch•Jason hands over the Golden fleece to Pelias

•Medea Restores youth to Aeson

•And Pelias’ daughters cut him into pieces!

Years laterYears later……

• In exile at Corinth, Jason jilts Medea…

• who sends Glauce a killer robe…

• …kills their children

• …& flies to Athens in a chariot pulled by dragons

Where does this fit in the story?Where does this fit in the story?

Just cause I like them…Just cause I like them…

1.1. The Girl as Helper MotifThe Girl as Helper Motif

1. A youth comes into the power of an ogre2. Who gives him seemingly impossible tasks3. Which he accomplishes with the help of the

ogre’s daughter4. Who flees with him because she’s in love.5. The ogre chases them, but6. The daughter throws objects into his path.7. The youth magically loses memory of his bride,8. But it is restored