The Golden Fleece, Medea, and Aristaues, the Bee-Keeper

These three myths talk about different characters who had to fight and overpass certain obstacles and challenges to gain what they were seeking for.

The Golden Fleece was a chariot-like thing obtained by Athamas, given by Mercury. In it, her son travelled to the kingdom of Colchis, and as appreciation handed the Golden Fleece to the king, who immediately secured it, with a dragon.

Then came Jason, who’d soon be the ruler of part of another kingdom nearby. He went to claim his land to his uncle, as the other part of the kingdom belonged to Jason’s father. But Pilas—the uncle—wasn’t willing to give his nephew the throne without gifts or rewards. So he said he’d give his throne, as soon as he’d bring the Golden Fleece from Colchis, which had supposedly stolen.

Brave as he was, Jason embarked along with many other courageous Greeks, and arrived. Medea, the daughter of the king was asked to help by Jason. In reward, he said, he’d marry her.

Jason married Medea eventually. As any good potion-maker, it would be easy for the couple to mostly gained what they wanted. And, as indirect as it may seem, the way the reward was for Medea, in this myth, was vengeance. She felt she’d been good in all her overall makings, and she only affected people only positively. Of what she hated of Pilas, she didn’t make the right potion, and therefore killed Pilas.

The reward Medea had to pay for killing, was remaining alone, as Jason left her for another women.

Then, the third myth I read, Aristaeus the Bee-Keeper, shows the journey he made to ask Proteus, an old prophet why was it that his bees had died. Having the patience, to do all the sacrifices and offerings to the gods that the prophet made him do, he came back home and found his bees back alive.

Similar to what it is gaining a price today. You are not raised to a higher position if you don’t work hard, as you won’t get an award if you do your best in school. Life, we are given to live, but not are we given the riches we’d like to have and live with; on the other hand, we have to fight for them and show we really want them—by making a good effort.