605. Greek Myths: Jason & The Quest for the Golden Fleece (Part 4)

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Oct 1, 2025

Dive into the thrilling journey of Jason and the Argonauts as they face terrifying trials, from fire-breathing bulls to a dragon guarding the Golden Fleece. Explore the evolving role of Medea, the sorceress with a tragic fate, and the fascinating origins of Greek myths in historical contexts. Discover how Alexander the Great’s reign transformed perceptions of the divine and the rise of skepticism in the Hellenistic world. The enduring legacy of these myths captivates audiences, reflecting timeless human themes and creative adaptations throughout history.

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INSIGHT

Argonautica As Hellenistic Blockbuster

Apollonius' Argonautica (c.250 BC) is a faithful, cinematic-style epic that collects and reworks older myths into a page-turner.
Callimachus criticized it as scavenging popular elements, reflecting a Hellenistic debate about literary taste.

INSIGHT

Myth As Crafted Entertainment

Apollonius integrates many traditions (Talos, harpies, clashing rocks) into a unified narrative drawing on earlier poets.
He deliberately crafts thrilling set-pieces to revive myth for a Hellenistic audience.

INSIGHT

Callimachus' Highbrow Critique

Callimachus attacked Apollonius as an ibis-like scavenger, signaling elite distaste for mass entertainment in Alexandria.
This rivalry mirrors wider Hellenistic anxieties about cultural authenticity.

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What terrifying trials did Jason and the Argonauts have to overcome to win the famous Golden Fleece from a fire-breathing dragon, in one of the greatest greek myths of all time? When and where does this thrilling story come from? How does it tie together the tales of Odysseus, Orpheus, Achilles and Circe? Is there any historical evidence for the story of Jason and the Argonauts? What are the origins of Medea, the beautiful but vindictive sorceress who Jason marries? Did the Greeks still worship the Olympian gods in the more skeptical Hellenistic age? How did the coming of Alexander the Great transform the Greeks’ understanding of the divine? And, were the Olympian gods really once mortal kings and queens of an earlier age, or were they planets..?

Join Tom and Dominic as they conclude their epic journey into the glorious heart of Greek mythology, as they explore their evolution in an increasingly skeptical Hellenistic world, and answer the question; why did the Greek myths endure and captivate audiences throughout history, in a way that no other culture’s mythology did?

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Producer: Theo Young-Smith

Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude

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