The legend of Jason and Hercules and all the argonauts who dared the unknown seas for gold and glory.

The story of Jason and the Argonauts is one of the most famous in Greek myth, and its development from the oldest layers of Greek mythology down to the modern age encapsulates the dramatic changes in faith, power and culture that Western civilization has seen over the past three millennia. From the Bronze Age to the Classical Age, from the medieval world to today, the Jason story has been told and retold with new stories, details and meanings. This book explores the epic history of a colorful myth and probes the most ancient origins of the quest for the Golden Fleece--a quest that takes us to the very dawn of Greek religion and its close relationship with Near Eastern peoples and cultures.

As in her Tony Award–winning Metamorphoses, Mary Zimmerman transforms Greek mythology—here the story of Jason and the Argonauts—into a mesmerizing piece of theater. Encountering an array of daunting challenges in their “first voyage of the world,” Jason and his crew illustrate the essence of all such journeys to follow—their unpredictability, their inspiring and overwhelming breadth of emotion, their lessons in the inevitability of failure and loss. Bursts of humor and fantastical creatures enrich a story whose characters reveal remarkable complexity. Medea is profoundly sympathetic even as the seeds are sown for the monstrous life ahead of her, and the brute strength of Hercules leaves him no less vulnerable to the vicissitudes of love. Zimmerman brings to Argonautika her trademark ability to encompass the full range of human experience in a work as entertaining as it is enlightening.

The story of Jason and his quest for the Golden Fleece remains a favorite with children. Ken Catran's version of the tale takes a slightly different tack from previous authors. Pylos, an apprentice shipbuilder, is rescued by Hercules from his cruel master and accompanies the Argonauts as the ship's boy and narrates the exciting events that happen during the three-year voyage: the sea battle with the Trojans, the harrowing passage through the clashing rocks, Jason's ill-fated romance with Medea, and the palace intrigue and royal rivalries that threaten to destroy the mission. Ken Catran's colorful characters, vivid dialogue, and dramatic narrative make this award winner a compulsively readable version of the classic myth.

To win back his father's kingdom, Jason must find the fabled Golden Fleece. Many have attempted the perilous journey in search of it and never returned. But Jason and his band of Argonauts set sail determined to succeed! Part of a collection of fun-filled, dynamic and dramatic stories, tales that every aspiring boy-adventurer wants to read.

Describes the cycle of myths about the Argonauts and the quest for the Golden Fleece, as well as the tales of the Creation of Heaven and Earth, the labors of Hercules, Theseus and the Minotaur, etc.

The voyage of Jason and the Argonauts and their hunt for the Golden Fleece is one of the most enduringly popular of all of the Ancient Greek heroic myths. Accepting the quest in order to regain his kingdom, Jason assembled a legendary crew including many of Greece's greatest heroes such as Hercules, Orpheus, Atalanta, Telamon, and the twins Castor and Pollux. With this band of heroes and demi-gods, Jason set sail in the Argo on a journey across the known world. During their quest, the Argonauts faced numerous challenges including the harpies, the clashing rocks, the Sirens, Talos the bronze man, the sleepless dragon that guarded the fleece, and of course the fickle will of the gods of Olympus. Dr. Neil Smith retells this classic myth, examining its origins, its history, and its continued popularity. The text is supported by numerous illustrations both classical and modern, including numerous artwork plates especially commissioned for this work.