Jason & the Golden Fleece May Be Based on True Events

Now, this was truly fascinating!

Experts now believe that the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece may have been based on real life events!

This is something that is particularly relevant for me right now, since I have been trying to teach my son all about Greek mythology. There was a short book at 2nd to 3rd grade level that I had gotten him years ago, well before he would have been old enough to understand it. Also, there was a book dating back to my own childhood about Greek mythology, and I began to read this to him, with mixed results.

However, I had inquired of some Facebook friends, and got several recommendations for the Percy Jackson series. I got the books over this last summer, and began reading them to him very soon afterwards. These, he seems to really get into, and we have been able to share good times together with these books, which have also proven very useful in helping him get more acclimated with Greek mythology, for which I am very thankful!

In any case, I digress.

Here, there is a suggestion that the mythical events surrounding the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece may actually have derived from real life events. And really, is it all that surprising? Surely, the events would have been embellished, yes. But are not most stories and legends grounded, on some level or other, in reality?

Take a look at these links to articles that reveal this fascinating possibility:





Evidence suggests Jason and the Golden Fleece was based on true events by Bec Crew, December 1, 2014:

http://www.sciencealert.com/new-evidence-suggests-jason-and-the-golden-fleece-was-based-on-true-events



Legend of the Golden Fleece was REAL: Greek myth originated near the Black Sea where miners used sheepskin to filter gold from mountain streams, geologists claim By Richard Gray for MailOnline, November 27, 2014:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2851531/Legend-Golden-Fleece-real-hunt-sheepskin-used-filter-flakes-gold-mountain-streams.html




Did ancient gold mining methods create REAL Golden Fleece and inspire legend of Jason and the Argonauts? By Liz Leafloor, November 28, 2014:

http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-general/ancient-gold-mining-methods-create-real-golden-fleece-legend-jason-020117