Greek PantheonJourney
Quest for the Golden Fleece
The voyage of Jason
Jason and the Argonauts' epic voyage aboard the Argo to retrieve the Golden Fleece from Colchis, facing countless dangers and adventures.
The route
The map illustrates the story's route. Pins are not evidence of an exact historical itinerary; some places are disputed or mythical.
Iolcos
Starting point of the quest. King Pelias sent Jason to retrieve the Golden Fleece, believing it to be an impossible task that would kill his rival.
Pelias's challenge, Assembly of the Argonauts, Building of the Argo, Departure
Stop by stop
Iolcos
Starting point of the quest. King Pelias sent Jason to retrieve the Golden Fleece, believing it to be an impossible task that would kill his rival.
Events: Pelias's challenge; Assembly of the Argonauts; Building of the Argo; Departure
Lemnos
Island inhabited only by women who had killed their husbands. Queen Hypsipyle welcomed the Argonauts, and they stayed for some time.
Events: Discovery of the women-only island; Romance with Queen Hypsipyle; Heracles urges departure
Cyzicus
Island where King Cyzicus welcomed them, but after they departed, winds blew them back at night. In the darkness, they fought their hosts, killing the king.
Events: Warm welcome from King Cyzicus; Battle with six-armed giants; Tragic night battle; Death of King Cyzicus
Mysia
Where Heracles's companion Hylas was pulled into a spring by water nymphs. Heracles searched so long for him that the Argonauts left without him.
Events: Hylas abducted by nymphs; Heracles's desperate search; Departure without Heracles
Land of the Bebryces
Kingdom of the brutal King Amycus, who challenged all visitors to a boxing match. Polydeuces (Pollux) defeated and killed him.
Events: Challenge from King Amycus; Boxing match with Polydeuces; Death of Amycus
Salmydessus
Home of the blind prophet Phineus, tormented by Harpies who stole or fouled his food. The Boreads (sons of the North Wind) drove them away.
Events: Meeting the blind prophet; Driving away the Harpies; Receiving guidance for the Clashing Rocks
Symplegades (Clashing Rocks)
The Clashing Rocks at the entrance to the Black Sea that crushed ships between them. Following Phineus's advice, they released a dove first.
Events: Release of the dove; Navigation through the rocks; Loss of the stern ornament; Rocks forever fixed in place
Island of Ares
Island sacred to Ares, inhabited by birds that shot their feathers like arrows. The Argonauts drove them off by clashing their shields.
Events: Attack by the Stymphalian birds; Defense with clashing shields; Meeting the sons of Phrixus
Colchis
Kingdom of King Aeetes, where the Golden Fleece hung in a grove sacred to Ares, guarded by a sleepless dragon. Here Jason met Medea.
Events: Meeting King Aeetes; Aeetes's impossible tasks; Medea falls in love with Jason; Yoking the fire-breathing bulls; Sowing the dragon teeth; Defeating the earth-born warriors; Medea drugs the dragon; Stealing the Golden Fleece
Pursuit by Apsyrtus
Medea's brother Apsyrtus pursued the Argonauts. In some versions, Medea killed and dismembered him to delay her father's pursuit.
Events: Pursuit by Colchian fleet; Death of Apsyrtus; Divine anger requires purification
Aeaea (Circe's Island)
The Argonauts sought purification from Circe, Medea's aunt, for the murder of Apsyrtus. She purified them but refused them hospitality.
Events: Purification ritual; Circe's refusal of hospitality
Island of the Sirens
The Argonauts passed the Sirens safely because Orpheus played his lyre louder than their song, drowning out their deadly music.
Events: Orpheus outplays the Sirens; Safe passage
Strait of Scylla and Charybdis
With the help of the sea goddess Thetis and the Nereids, the Argo was safely guided through the deadly strait.
Events: Guidance by Thetis; Safe passage through the strait
Crete
The Argonauts encountered Talos, the bronze giant who guarded Crete. Medea used her magic to defeat him by removing the plug in his ankle.
Events: Confrontation with Talos; Medea's magic defeats Talos; Death of the bronze giant
Iolcos (Return)
Jason returned triumphant with the Golden Fleece and Medea as his bride, only to find that Pelias had killed his father. Medea tricked Pelias's daughters into killing him.
Events: Triumphant return; Presentation of the Golden Fleece; Revenge on Pelias; Exile to Corinth
About this journey
By Elizabeth Stein for Mythos Atlas. About the author. Editorial notes are grounded in the site's cited sources and can be challenged through the contact page.
Routes follow the named source; other tellings order or place the stops differently.