Misfortune struck again when one of the ship’s oars was broken. Heracles went into the forest for wood to make a new oar. Meanwhile, his lover, the nimble Hylas, went to a spring to get water, but there was captured by Nymphs and never seen again. The son of Zeus refused to leave without his companion and began to search the woods, joined by Polyphemus. The other Argonauts became deeply divided over whether to leave without Heracles, and anger led to the prospect of fighting among themselves, until Glaucus appeared and told them that they could succeed without Heracles, whom the Fates had told was to follow a different destiny (i.e., completing his Twelve Labors).

Adventure followed adventure. When the king of the Bebryces challenged the Argonauts to a boxing match, Pollux, a champion boxer, killed the boastful king with a blow to the head. The wrathful Bebryces made to attack, but the warriors of Hellas drove them off.

When they passed the Bosporus, the Argonauts landed their ship in Thrace. There they encountered blind Phineas, who begged for help against the hideous Harpies. Zetes and Calais killed several of the monsters before great Zeus sent Iris with a message, a promise that the blind seer would not be bothered again.

As they sailed across the Euxine [Black] Sea, the Argonauts stopped at the Island of Ares. Suddenly attacked by the malicious Stymphalian Birds, they recalled how mighty Heracles had defeated the monsters with bronze clappers forged by Hephaestus. So they drove them away by making loud noises. On the island, they also found four sons of Phrixus exiled from Colchis, who agreed to join the Argonauts on their quest.

On to Colchis

The great goddess Hera now foresaw that the Argonauts would fail in their quest without the help of Medea, a daughter of Aeëtes and powerful sorceress. Far-seeing Hera also knew that Medea must return with noble Jason to Iolcus, so to overthrow Pelias from the throne. With the help of golden Aphrodite, Eros was sent to enchant Medea with one of his arrows. When the Argonauts arrived at Colchis, Hera arranged that noble Jason was the first hero the charmed Medea should meet.

The first challenge for the hero was to capture fire-eating bulls and yoke them to plow a field and sow it with dragon’s teeth. And so, Medea gave Jason an ointment to protect against flames. The next day, Jason set out and captured the fierce bulls. He yoked them and plowed the field, but the dragon’s teeth transformed into armed men when they were planted. Warned by Medea about the danger, Jason threw rocks at the magical warriors, causing them to fight each other. Jason easily defeated the few that remained to face him.

Aeëtes was furious at the failure of his wicked plan and prepared his people attack the Argonauts. Learning of her father’s treachery, Medea went to Jason’s camp and warned him to take the Fleece and escape. Jason agreed and promised to take lovely Medea back to Greece and marry her.

As the Argonauts prepared to sail, Medea led Jason and Orpheus to the grove of the dragon. The clever Orpheus played his lyre to charm the dragon, and Medea gave the dragon a sleeping potion. While the dragon was drunk with sleep, Jason moved with stealth to recover the Golden Fleece from the tree where it was kept. With the prize in hand, the three returned to the ship, and the Argonauts sailed from Colchis.

Return to Iolcus

Many stories are told about what happened after the Fleece was taken from Colchis. The Colchians pursued the Argonauts across the Euxine Sea, but were defeated in their attacks until the Argonauts escaped up the Danuvius River. The Argonauts somehow crossed the lands of Dacia and reached the Adriatic Sea, a miraculous feat in their great ship.

Heading for home, the Argonauts called at Aeaea, the island of the sorceress Circe, sister of Aeëtes. But Circe sent them away when she discovered that Medea had betrayed her father. Next, the Argo had to pass near the island of the Sirens. Orpheus used his lyre to play music that would protect the rest of the crew from the Sirens’ seductive singing. One man only, Butes, dived into the sea and tried to swim to the island, and would have drowned, but fair Aphrodite saved him.

The Argo had to pass the straits guarded by Scylla and Charybdis [traditionally, the Straits of Messina]. They were helped through by Thetis.

A trap awaited the heroes when they reached the island of Drepane. A group from Colchis arrived before them, and the Colchians appealed to Alcinoüs and Arete, king and queen of the island, for justice and the return of Medea. Arete took pity on the Argonauts and agreed to help if Jason and Medea were married, and that night the lovers were married. The next day, king Alcinoüs told the Colchians he would not separate a wife from her husband, and thus were the Colchians defeated in their designs.

From Crete, the Argo sailed for Aegina, and from there, made the short trip to Iolcus. And there the story of the Golden Fleece ends. But know also, that noble Jason, aided by Medea, gained his throne and ruled for many years in justice and wisdom.