Spotlight on Inspiration - Jason and the Golden Fleece

In the Flame Pearls journey Lee Falk used elements from Greek mythology into the story.

This article, or section of an article, is very short. You can help MandrakeWiki by expanding it.

The Quest for the Golden Fleece

• In Greek mythology Jason set out on a quest for the Golden Fleece in their ship, the Argo, constructed by the shipwright Argus.
• Mandrake set out on a scientific expedition to the South Pacific for the Flame Pearls on the yacht Argos, owned by Colonel Barton.

The Isle of Lemnos

The island was inhabited by a race of women who had killed their husbands.

Cyzicus

After Lemnos the Argonauts landed among the Doliones, whose king Cyzicus treated them graciously.

Phineas and the Harpies

Phineas revealed to Jason the location of Colchis and how to pass the Symplegades, or The Clashing Rocks, and then they parted.

The Symplegades

The only way to reach Colchis was to sail through the Symplegades (Clashing Rocks), huge rock cliffs that came together and crushed anything that traveled between them. Phineas told Jason to release a dove when they approached these islands, and if the dove made it through, to row with all their might. If the dove was crushed, he was doomed to fail. Jason released the dove as advised, which made it through, losing only a few tail feathers. Seeing this, they rowed strongly and made it through with minor damage at the extreme stern of the ship. From that time on, the clashing rocks were forever joined leaving free passage for others to pass.

The arrival in Colchis

Jason arrived in Colchis to claim the fleece as his own. It was owned by King Aeetes of Colchis. The fleece was given to him by Phrixus. Aeetes promised to give it to Jason only if he could perform three certain tasks. Presented with the tasks