The King of Colchis hated strangers. He hated them so much that he killed any who came to his country. But when he heard that Jason and his band of Argonauts had landed on his shores in search of the precious golden fleece, he smiled nastily.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cI shall set this great hero an impossible task, and then I shall kill him and his followers,\u201d he said to his witch-daughter Medea. So the king welcomed Jason and his friends, but when they told him what they had come for he prentended to be surprised.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t you know that anyone who wants the golden fleece must do something for me first? I have a field that needs ploughing up ad sowing- perhaps you could do that?\u2019 Jason agreed, but he was very surprised when he saw the king\u2019s plough animals, and even more surprised when he saw what he had to sow. The plough was harnessed to two fiery bulls, whose breath burned anyone who came near them, and the seeds in the packet were dragon\u2019s teeth.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have till sunset tomorrow,\u201d said the king.\u00a0Now Hera knew that Jason could never plough and sow the field on his own, so she summoned Aphrodite. \u201cMake the king\u2019s daughter, Medea, fall in love with Jason,\u201d she commanded. \u201cShe will know how to help him.\u201d So Aphrodite sent her son Eros to shoot Medea with his little love darts, and soon afterwards Medea sneaked into Jason\u2019s room.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you,\u201d she whispered, \u201cand I can help you. Take this lotion and cover yourself with it. Then you will be able to bear the heat of the bulls\u2019 breath and plough the field.\u201d Jason did just as she said, and then he sowed the dragon\u2019s teeth. Straightaway hundreds of stone soldiers sprang up in neat rows from the ground, but Jason threw a rock at them, and they all began to fight each other. By sunset they were all dead.<\/p>\n
The grove was dark and gloomy, but the Golden Fleece shone out like a thousand suns. Quickly Medea began to chant a magic song, and the green scaly dragon which had been sent to guard the fleece closed its huge eyes with a sigh.<\/span>The king was furious, and he ordered his soldiers to kill Jason and his Argonauts at dawn. But Medea overheard his plan and ran to Jason at once. \u201cYou must leave,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cI will lead you to the sacred grove, and sing the dragon to sleep with my magic while you steal the golden fleece. Then we can escape together.\u201d Jason kissed her, and together they tiptoed out of the palace.<\/p>\n Jason stepped over its gigantic body and ripped the precious fleece from the branch where it hung. A hundred warning bells rang out as Jason and Medea ran for the Argo and they heard the thunder of many feet behind them as the king\u2019s soldiers gave chase. They flung themselves onto the deck, and the Argonauts rowed and rowed until Colchis was left far behind. The golden fleece was rescued at last, and Jason could now go home and claim his throne from his wicked uncle Pelias.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The King of Colchis hated strangers. He hated them so much that he killed any who came to his country. But when he heard that Jason and his band of Argonauts had landed on his shores in search … <\/p>\n