CHAPTER XIII.

ARGONAUTIC EXPEDITION.

Ship Argô in the Odyssey.—In Hesiod and Eumêlus.—Jasôn and his heroic companions.—Lêmnos.—Adventures at Kyzikus, in Bithynia, etc.—Hêraklês and Hylas.—Phineus.—Dangers of the Symplêgades.—Arrival at Kolchis.—Conditions imposed by Æêtês as the price of the golden fleece.—Perfidy of Æêtês—flight of the Argonauts and Mêdea with the fleece.—Pursuit of Æêtês—the Argonauts saved by Mêdea.—Return of the Argonauts—circuitous and perilous.—Numerous and wide-spread monuments referring to the voyage.—Argonautic legend generally.—Fabulous geography—gradually modified as real geographical knowledge increased.—Transposition of epical localities.—How and when the Argonautic voyage became attached to Kolchis.—Æêtês and Circê.—Return of the Argonauts—different versions.—Continued faith in the voyage—basis of truth determined by Strabo. 231-256