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.








Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mussolini's views on antisemitism and race Benito Mussolini

Types Classification yard

Discography Memnock