Persecution by Pelias Jason
pelias, king of iolcos, stops on steps of temple recognises young jason missing sandal; roman fresco pompeii, 1st century ad.
pelias (aeson s half-brother) power-hungry , sought gain dominion on of thessaly. pelias progeny of union between shared mother, tyro ( high born tyro ), daughter of salmoneus, , sea god poseidon. in bitter feud, overthrew aeson (the rightful king), killing descendants of aeson could. spared half-brother unknown reasons. aeson s wife alcimede had newborn son named jason whom saved pelias having female attendants cluster around infant , cry if still-born. fearing pelias notice , kill son, alcimede sent him away reared centaur chiron,; claimed had been having affair him along. pelias, fearing ill-gotten kingship might challenged, consulted oracle, warned him beware of man wearing 1 sandal.
many years later, pelias holding games in honor of poseidon when grown jason arrived in iolcus, having lost 1 of sandals in river anauros ( wintry anauros ) while helping old woman (actually goddess hera in disguise) cross. blessed him knew, goddesses do, pelias had planned. when jason entered iolcus (present-day city of volos), announced man wearing 1 sandal. jason, aware rightful king, informed pelias. pelias replied, take throne, shall, must go on quest find golden fleece. jason readily accepted condition.
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