The myth of the Golden Fleece is one of the most famous legends of Greek mythology, which tells the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts. They went in search of a precious magical object: the fleece of the winged ram Chrysomallos.
The origin of the Golden Fleece myth
The Golden Fleece was the golden coat of Chrysomallos, a winged ram capable of flying that the god Hermes gave to Nephele, former wife of the king of Thessaly. Nephele had two children, Helle and Phrixus, who were hated by Atamante's second wife, Ino.
She tried to kill them to favor her own son, but Nephele saved them by sending them riding on Chrysomallos towards Colchis, a region on the Black Sea. During the journey, Helle fell into the sea and drowned, giving the name to the strait that separates Europe from Asia: the Hellespont.
Phrixus instead arrived safe and sound in Colchis, where he was hosted by King Aeetes. As a sign of gratitude, Phrixus sacrificed the ram to Zeus and gave the fleece to Aeetes, who hung it on a tree in a sacred grove and had it guarded by a dragon.
Jason and the Argonauts
The Golden Fleece thus became the object of Jason's mission, grandson of Athamas and legitimate heir to the throne of Iolcus.
Jason had been deposed by his uncle Pelias, who imposed as a condition for returning the kingdom to bring him the Golden Fleece from Colchis.
Jason accepted the challenge and gathered a team of heroes, called Argonauts after the ship Argo, built with the help of the goddess Athena. Among the Argonauts were famous characters like Heracles, Orpheus, Castor and Pollux, Peleus (father of Achilles), and Atalanta (the only woman in the group).
The Argonauts faced numerous dangers and adventures along their journey to Colchis.
Here Jason fell in love with Medea, the sorceress daughter of Aeetes, who helped him obtain the Golden Fleece. Medea gave him a potion to put the dragon to sleep and guided him into the forest where the fleece was hanging.
Jason thus managed to seize the desired object and fled with Medea and the Argonauts.
Aeetes chased them with his army, but Medea used a cruel trick to slow him down: she killed her brother Absyrtus and threw his pieces into the sea, forcing Aeetes to stop to collect them.
The return of the Argonauts was no less adventurous than their departure. But in the end, Jason and Medea finally arrived at Iolcus, where Jason claimed his throne.
But Pelias refused to give it up and Medea devised a revenge: she convinced Pelias' daughters to cut their father into pieces and throw them into a pot, promising to make him young again with her magic.
Instead, Pelias died and Jason and Medea had to flee from Iolcus. They took refuge in Corinth, where they lived for ten years and had two children.
But Jason grew tired of Medea and betrayed her with Glauce, the daughter of King Creon.
Medea, furious, killed Glauce with a poisoned dress and then her own children with Jason, before fleeing on a winged chariot given to her by her grandfather Helios, the sun god.
The meaning of the myth of the Golden Fleece
The myth of the Golden Fleece is a story rich in symbols and meanings. The Golden Fleece represents power, wealth, and wisdom, but also danger and temptation. Jason is the hero who seeks to reclaim his right and fulfill his destiny, but who must face difficult trials and insurmountable obstacles.
Medea is the woman in love who helps him with her magic, but who also becomes his enemy when she is betrayed.
The Argonauts are the travel companions who support him with their skills and courage, but who also have to pay a price for their undertaking.
The myth of the Golden Fleece is also a story that tells the origins of Greek civilization and its relations with other peoples. The journey of the Argonauts is a kind of exploration of the ancient world, which leads them to discover different cultures and confront fantastic beings. The myth also reflects the religious beliefs of the Greeks, who saw in the gods and goddesses the forces that governed the cosmos and human life.
The myth of the Golden Fleece is ultimately a story that has inspired generations of artists and writers, who have given it various interpretations and versions.
Among the most famous works dedicated to the myth are:
- The Argonautica by Apollonius Rhodius, the epic poem that narrates the adventures of the Argonauts;
- Euripides' Medea, the tragedy that stages Medea's drama;
- Ovid's Metamorphoses, the poem that tells the transformations of heroes;
- The Golden Fleece by Robert Graves, the historical novel that retells the myth in a modern key;
- Jason and the Argonauts, the 1963 film that recreates the myth with special effects
Relevance of the myth of the Golden Fleece in Lanaioli's High-Quality knitwear project
The myth of the Golden Fleece and Jason and the Argonauts has inspired many works of art and literature over the centuries.
Wool is a natural fiber produced by many animals, including sheep, goats, and camels. High-quality wool is soft, durable, and warm, and is used to produce clothing items such as sweaters, scarves, and hats.
According to us at Lanaioli, the myth of the Golden Fleece can be updated to the present day in many ways: high-quality wool can be considered the modern equivalent of the Golden Fleece.
Like the Golden Fleece, high-quality wool is rare and precious. Moreover, like the Golden Fleece, high-quality wool requires a lot of care and attention to be produced.
Today, the Golden Fleece has become a symbol of high-quality wool thanks to the exploration of new ways to produce men's knitwear and women's knitwear.
Lanaioli has immediately selected a line of regenerated cashmere yarns to explore the world of sustainability and circular economy thanks to eco-cashmere sweaters.
Furthermore, we have activated a short supply chain for the production of merino wool knitwear, sweaters, and accessories made from merino wool of endangered native sheep breeds.
For this reason, we take the myth of the Golden Fleece as an example to explain to our audience the experimental approach we had in designing and creating our knitwear, from the careful selection of natural and regenerated yarns to their production.
