The Argo's Crew

by Jennie

The voyages of the Argo and her crew are well known but the way in which the crew was selected and the details of each crew member are not as easily recalled. Perhaps it is because it is easier to remember clashing rocks, dragons, Medea’s magic and dangerous battles. Whatever the reason, in the beginning of his journey Jason prayed to Zeus and a branch fell from a tree and landed at his feet. The branch was used in the prow of the ship for a good omen. Shortly after consulting Zeus Jason meets Hercules on his way home. Jason asks Hercules to be leader of the voyage and Hercules agrees as long as he can choose the crew.

In the hall of Pelias while dining Hercules stands up and says "first of all I order all those guests of King Pelias who wish to sail with me to Colchis in the (Argo) to range themselves on my right hand; and those who do not wish to sail to range themselves on my left hand" (Graves, "Hercules" 87). Fifty men move to his right and thirty move to his left. The thirty that do not wish to go on the voyage are labeled cowards and ordered to leave their cloths in a pile at Pelias’ feet as a gift in return for his hospitality and as punishment for their cowardness. Everyone has a good laugh at their embarrassment, surely this is memorable! After this incident Hercules tells Jason that he thinks himself to be unlucky and requests that his steward Hylas be allowed to make the selection instead. Jason consents and all of the Minyans stand aside because they are guaranteed a spot on the ship. The fifteen Minyans that were part of the crew were Mopsus, Coronus, Melampus, Erginus, Periclymenus, Ascalaphus, Jason, Acastus, Eurydamas, Tiphys, Idas, Lynceus, King Admetus and "two brothers from Halos whose names have been forgotten" (Graves, "Hercules" 88). Hylas went on to chose the brothers Castor and Polydeuces, the sons of Leda and Zeus; the brothers Calais and Zetes, the sons of Oreithyia and the North Wind; Euphemus, the son of Europa; Idmon, the son of Calliope and Apollo and Echion, the son of Hermes and Antianeira. Hercules had the last twenty men battle for the last three spots on the ship. The winners were Butes, Phalerus and Ancaeus. These are the members that were chosen by Hercules and Hylas but some of them did not actually sail on the ship. The unknown Minyan brothers chickened out in the night and two others took their place.

The Argonauts who actually sailed from the Pagasaean Gulf were: Acastus, Actor, Admetus, Amphiaraus, Ancaeus (son of Poseidon), Ancaeus (the Lelegian), Argus, Ascalaphus, Atalanta, Augeas, Butes, Calais, Castor, Coronus, Echion, Erginus, Euphemus, Eurydamas, Hercules, Hylas, Idas, Idmon, Iphitus, Jason, Lynceus, Meleager, Melampus, Mopsus, Nauplius, Orpheus, Palaemon, Peleus, Periclymenus, Phalerus, Phanus, Polydeuces, Theseus, Tiphys, and Zetes.

Acastus was a Minyan and the son of King Pelias (Graves, "Hercules" 112). He was married to Cretheis. Cretheis "tried to seduce Peleus and, when he rebuffed her advances, she lyingly told Polymela that he intended to marry her daughter Sterope" (Graves, "Mythology" 270). Polymela hung herself in grief. I’m sure this didn’t make for good feelings between the ship mates Acastus and Peleus. Eventually Acastus is murdered by Peleus so apparently friendship was not a given between the crew.

Actor was the son of Deion. He was married to Moline and had two sons that were born form a silver egg and they were joined at the hip. Actor’s daughter Polymela was given to Peleus in marriage along with a third of Actor’s kingdom. Peleus accidentally kills Actor’s adopted son Eurytion while hunting. He flees to Iolcus and this is where he becomes acquainted with Acastus and his wife.

Admetus’name means untamed. He was king of Pherae and a friend of Apollo and it is said that "Apollo once made the Fates drunk in order to save (Admetus’) life" (Graves, "Mythology" 48). Admetus married Alcestis the daughter of Pelias with the help of Apollo and Hercules. They helped him yoke a wild boar and a lion to the same chariot, as requested by Pelias. Alcestis volunteered to die for Admetus when Hermes came to summon him to the underworld but Hercules intervened and saved Alcestis from Hades.

Amphiaraus was a Theban oracle. He aided in the boar hunt for King Oeneus and blinded the boar with his arrow before it was killed. Atalanta was also present on the boar hunt. Atalanta struck the boar first with an arrow behind the ear.

Ancaeus the son of Poseidon is also called Great Ancaeus to distinguish him from "Ancaeus the Lelegian of Samos" (Graves, "Mythology" 579). Ancaesus the Lelegian served as navigator for the Argo after Tiphys died. Ancaeus the son of Poseidon served as the Argos helmsman. He died shortly after the voyage when he was about to take a sip of wine grown from his vineyard. A seer had told him he would die before he tasted the wine from his vineyard. When he raised his glass he mocked the seer because he was obviously about to taste the wine but just as he raised his glass his "servants ran up shouting: ‘My lord, a wild boar! It is ravaging your vineyard!’ He set down the untasted cup, grasped his boar spear, and hurried out" (Graves, "Mythology" 619). The boar was hiding in a bush and killed him before he ever tasted his wine.

Argus was the man who built the Argo. Argus was sent to build the ship when Hera appeared to him in a dream. Argus dreamt of a beam that was in a house that came "from an oak tree in Dodona, the grove of Zeus. A sacred power was in the beam, and from it the prow of the ship would be fashioned" (Colum 26). Others say that the prow of the ship contained a branch that fell at Jason’s feet while he was praying in Dodona.

Ascalaphus was the son of Ares. Ascalaphus is also the name of the owl that told Demeter that Persephone had eaten a pomegranate while in Hades.

Atalanta was the daughter of Jasius. Her mother died in child birth and her father wanted her exposed on a mountain but she was left on the threshold of the shrine of Artemis instead. Atalanta was suckled by a bear. She became a famous huntress and was turned into a lion by Cybele for desecrating her temple.

Augeas was important because he was the son of the King of Elis. His father Phorbas was a priest to the Sun as well as King of Elis.

Butes was the father of Eryx. Aphrodite slept with Butes to make Adonis jealous and gave birth to Eryx as a result. Butes is also said to be "a priest of the goddess Athene, the most famous bee master" (Graves, "Hercules" 113).

Calais was Zetes brother. These two Argonauts were from Thynia or Thrace. They were the sons of Boreas (the North Wind) and Oreithyia, daughter of the King of Athens. Boreas captured Oreithyia while she was taking part in the Thesmophoria.

Castor and Polydeuces are the sons of Zeus and Leda. They have a sister Helen, the most beautiful woman on earth. Castor’s name meant ‘beaver’ and Polydeuces’ name meant ‘much sweet wine’. Leda was also said to be the mother of Artemis and Apollo. Castor and Polydeuces also took part in the wild boar hunt with Atalanta and the others.

Coronus was the son of Caeneus. Caeneus was the King of the Lapiths and can you believe it, he was once a woman! He used to be the Nymph Caenis and when she slept with Poseidon he granted her any present she desired. She said "transform me into an invulnerable fighter. I am weary of being a woman" (Graves, "Mythology" 261). That is how Coronus was begot by a man who was once a woman! Coronus became the King of Lapith and was later killed by Hercules in battle.

Echion was the son of Hermes. He got his name from the white ribbons that streamed from the staff that Hermes held. His name meant viper because the ribbons were often mistaken for snakes. Echion was herald to the Argonauts on their voyage to find the fleece.

Hercules was "the son of Zeus and a mortal woman-Alcmene" (Harris 277). Hercules and Hylas helped Jason chose the Argos crew. While on the voyage Hylas was abducted by a water Nymph and although Hercules searched he could never find Hylas and he was forced to travel on with out him. Hercules is probably most famous for the Twelve Labors that he performed for Eurysheus however, "along with these tasks Hercules had time to overcome the giant Anteus, set up the pillars of Hercules, establish the Olympic Games, sail with Jason and the Argonauts, fight the centaurs, conquer Troy, liberate Prometheus, and rescue Alcestis from Hades" (Cook 17).

Erginus was the son of Poseidon. He became the father of the twins Agamedes and Trophonius. The twins were favored by Apollo and an oracle told them to live to the hearts desire for six days and that on the seventh they would be rewarded. On the seventh day they were found dead. This, along with the story of Cleobis and Biton is why it is said that "those whom the gods love die young" (Graves, "Hercules" 139).

Jason was the captain of the Argo. His birth name was Diomedes. He was the son of Aeson and rightful heir to the throne that King Pelias occupied but he was raised by the centaur Chiron. Pelias "agreed to give up the throne of Iolcus if Jason would bring back the fleece of Phrixus’ ram (the golden fleece)" (Dominquez 3).

Euphemus was known as the Phocian swimmer. He helped on the voyage when he "let loose a dove or heron, to fly ahead of the Argo. As soon as the rocks nipped of her tail feathers, and recoiled again, the Argonauts rowed with all speed" (Graves, "Mythology" 595) and aided by Athene made it through the clashing rocks.

Peleus and Telamon were friends of Jason. They were both "still youthful and neither had yet achieved any notable deed. Afterward they were to be famous, but their sons were to be even more famous, for the son of Telamon was strong Aias, and the son of Peleus was the great Achilles" (Colum 23). They were the sons of Aeacus and Endeis. Telamon and Peleus were jealous of their younger brother Phocus. Like Cain killed Able in a jealous rage, Telamon and Peleus killed Phocus. They hid his body in the woods, like Cain hid Able’s.

Orpheus was the famous Thracian musician that saved the Argo when "a storm arose and (he) prayed to the Samothracian gods, and played on his harp, whereupon the storm ceased and stars appeared on the heads of the two brothers Castor and Polydeuces" (Bulfinch 138).

Eurydamas was one of the chosen Minyans and he was also from Thessaly like a lot of the Argonauts.

Idas was the twin brother of Lynceus and son of Aphareus. During the voyage he tried to help save Idmon’s life when he "sprang to Idmon’s assistance and, when the boar charged Idmon again, impaled it with his spear; however, Idmon bleed to death despite his care" (Graves, "Mythology" 595). Idmon was a seer and the son of Apollo and Cyrene and was greatly mourned by the crew.

Iphitus was a painter from Phocis. He was wounded in battle during the escape from the Colchians after Jason and Medea had taken the fleece. Iphitus gave Odysseus the bow that he used and that Penelope had her suitors attempt to use in order to gain her hand in marriage.

Meleager was the son of King Oeneus and the husband of Cleopatra. Meleager was leader of the boar hunt that many of the Argonauts had participated in. He feel in love with Atalanta despite his marriage to Cleopatra. Hercules marries Meleager’s sister, Deianeira, the daughter of Dionysus and Althaea, after he encounters Meleager’s ghost in Tartarus. It is rumored that Atalanta bore Meleager a son whom "she exposed on the hill side" (Bulfinch 213).

Melampus was the Minyan son of Poseidon. Melampus was seduced by Eos, the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia after Aphrodite cursed her with longing for young men because she was found in bed with Ares. Melampus was the brother of Bias and the grandson of Cretheus. Melampus was "the first mortal to be granted prophetic powers, the first to practice as a physician, the first to build temples to Dionysus in Greece and the first to temper wine with water" (Graves, "Mythology" 233).

Mopsus was an augur, a soothsayer and an extant. He was the son of King Rhacius and Manto. It is said that Mopsus died from the bite of a viper that sprang from the desert were Perseus allowed some of the Gorgons blood to spill. Before his death Mopsus became king and like many heroes, defeated Myrine, an Amazon queen in battle.

Nauplius was "Amymone’s son by Poseidon, Nauplius, a famous navigator, discovered the art of steering by the Great Bear, and founded the city of Nauplius, where he settled the Egyptian crew that had sailed with his grandfather" (Graves, "Mythology" 203). No wonder that he was navigator of the Argo, who better than the son of the sea god!

Periclymenus is said by some to be the son of Poseidon and is said by others to be the son of Neleus. Periclymenus "was gifted by Poseidon with boundless strength and the power of assuming whatever shape he pleased, whether bird, beast, or tree" (Graves, "Mythology" 545). He died when Athene helped Hercules recognize him and Hercules shoots an arrow through his wing and he dies when he falls on the arrow.

Phalerus was the son of the famous archer Alcon. Alcon once shoot an arrow at a snake that was wrapped around Phalerus and killed the snake without injuring the boy. Alcon is similar to Odysseus in his use of the bow and arrow. He could shoot a bow through the rings on helmets and Odysseus could shoot through rings as well.

Theseus was the son of Aethra and either Aegeus or Poseidon. Theseus "joins Heracles (Hercules) on the voyage of the Argonauts and on his expedition against the Amazons" (Harris 286). Theseus is also "famous for killing the minotaur or the Cretan bull man" (Drake 340).

Tiphys was the helmsman of the Argo. He became sick during his voyage on the Argo and died before its finish. During the voyage the Argonauts "were making so little way that Tiphys decided to about ship, and ran back to the lee of the peninsula. He was driven off course; and the Argonauts, beaching their ship at random in the pitch dark, were at once assailed by well- armed warriors" (Graves, "Mythology" 587).

During the voyage more Argonauts are added but the above mentioned were the originals. The crew members added later were "Polyphemus the Lapith, a Minyan from Thessalian Larisa; and three Minyan brothers, Phlegyans from Thessalian Tricca, named Deileion, Phlogius, and Autolycus; and the four sons of Phrixus, the Minyan who had brought the fleece to Colchis, named Phrontis, Melanion, Cytissorus, and Argeus" (Graves, "Hercules" 113).

Works Cited

Bulfinch, Thomas. Bulfinch’s Mythology. New York: Random House, 1993.

Colum, Padraic. The Golden Fleece and the heroes who lived before Achilles. New York: Macmillan, 1921.

Cook, Jonathan A. "Moby Dick, myth and classical moralism: Bulkington as Hercules. Leviathan 5 (2003): 15-29.

Dominquez, Frank A. The Medieval Argonautica. Potomac: Jose Porrua Turanzas S.A., 1979.

Drake, Gertrude C. "Lucius’s parents, Theseus and Salvia, in ‘the Golden Ass’". Papers on Language & Literature 29 (1993): 336-346.

Graves, Robert. The Greek Myths Complete Edition. New York: Penguin, 1992.

Graves, Robert. Hercules, My Shipmate. New York: Stratford Press, 1945.

Harris, Stephen L. and Platzner, Gloria. Classical Mythology Images & Insights. Mountain View: Mayfield Publishing, 2001.