Adventures of the Argonauts--Home

Sea creatures have long been the subject of endless speculation. In the times of old,superstitions and belief in the supernatural resulted in sailors catching rare glimpses of the Kraken, the Sea Serpent (Jormungandr), sirens, and other creatures of the deep. Their depictions of these monsters on pottery, wood and metal have told us a lot about the cultural aspects of sea-going peoples. In this website, you'll find a database of creatures that may have been encountered by the sailors on one of the most famous ships in Greek Mythology: the Argo.

The Argo

The Argo was built by the shipwright Argus, and its crew was specially protected by the goddess Hera. It was said to have been planned or constructed with the help of Athena. It contained in its prow a magical piece of timber from the sacred forest of Dodona, which could speak and render prophecies. After its journey, the Argo was consecrated to Poseidon in the Isthmus of Corinth. It was turned into the constellation of Argo Navis.

The Argonauts

In the years before the Trojan war, a band of heroes called the Argonauts accompanied Jason in his quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece of Colchis. Many of the Argonauts became great heroes in later years, especially during the Trojan War. Among the most famous Argonauts were:

Heracles: The greatest of Greek heroes. He was best known for his Twelve Labors, which included slaying the Lernaean Hydra, among several other monsters.
The Gemini Twins: Castor and Pollux, the Gemini twins, were made into the Gemini constellation. They were regarded as the patrons of sailors, to whom they appeared as St. Elmo's fire.
Nestor: Often referred to as "the wisest of Greeks", Nestor was the advisor to king Agamemnon during the Trojan War, appearing both in the Iliad and in the Odyssey.
Theseus: The son of Poseidon through Aethra. He is most famous for slaying the ferocious Minotaur. His mortal father, Aegeus, gave the Aegean sea its name when he fell into those waters upon Theseus's return from Crete.

You can use the links in the left menu to read about sea-related myths from the Greek, Norse and Chinese civilizations, and the works of art that were inspired by these myths.

The Argonauts of the Caribbean team hopes you will enjoy the content this site has to offer!

Contents

The Adventures of the Argonauts

The Argo

The Argonauts