The king of the Thessalian city of Iolca, the devout Ezon, had the treacherous brother Peleus, all the while plotting against him. The weak king always forgave him until Peleus, collecting a squad of villains, seized the palace and threw Ezon from the throne. It was then that Ezon was born a son - Jason. The usurper, in order to maintain royal power for his descendants, decided to kill the baby. The old servant of Ezon found out about this and warned his parents. Those spread a rumor that he was ill, and a few days later - that he died. Slaves ran out of the house and wept bitterly. Meanwhile, under cover of night, the only witness to these tricks, the mother swaddled Jason in purple swaddling clothes and carried her into the cave to the center of Chiron.
Under the supervision of a wise demigod, the boy was brought up by Jason up to twenty-one years, while maintaining the purity of his language, thoughts, and customs. He did not know anything about his origin. As an adult boy, he thanked Chiron and went in search of adventure and glory. Once he stopped by a river, quite deep. Seeking ford, the young man came to the place where the river formed a wide flat mirror. At that moment, an old grandmother appeared in front of him and asked to be transferred to the other side. Jason willingly took her on her back and, jumping from stone to stone, ran across to the other side. Grandmother thanked him, wished happiness and disappeared. The prince did not know that it was the goddess Hera, who thus wanted to experience the kindness of his heart. Since then, the possessor of heaven has become his friendly guardian.
The weather was beautiful, and Jason, overwhelmed by the joy of youth, walked so fast that he did not notice how he had lost one sandal in the river silt. By dinner, he saw the walls of the city. It was Iolk. A sacred grove grew outside the city, and in that forest stood the most ancient altar of Poseidon, and they sacrificed on it at that time. Among the priests, shining with gold and purple, prayed the anxious and gloomy king Peleus - he was bitten by worries. Recently he sent messengers to Delphi and the oracle made him a formidable warning: “Avoid meeting a man who will be both a stranger and a fellow countryman who will come down from the mountains, shod in one sandal, and, heading west, will enter the glorious Iolk.
Since then, Peleus knew no peace. And even at that moment, making a sacrifice and praying to the gods, he looked around anxiously and gazed steadily at the feet of all who passed the altar. Suddenly Jason noticed and trembled. In front of him stood a fair-haired, handsome young man, strong and tall, with a wide-brimmed travel hat hanging on a ribbon behind his shoulders, with a spear in his right hand, shod with only one sandal. Pelius showed him to the steward and ordered him to be invited to the palace.
Jason had never before spoken to the kings, but when he stood before Peleus, he was not afraid. Feel free to say his name. The king asked: “What would you do, Jason if you were a king and knew that you would die at the hands of one of your guests?”
- I would send that guest in search of the Golden Fleece.
- Fine, - said the king. - So know that it is you who are. So go and bring me the golden fleece.