Sex, Lies and the Golden Fleece

"Hello, friends, and welcome back. This is Alexander Alighieri. On this third tape I am going to speak about a forgotten hero. While passing through the circle of lust, I saw many terrible things there. People were being tortured in terrifying ways. Sometimes I still hear the screams at night. Not a place I recommend going. Anyway, as I was passing though I saw a gang of men. They had an uncanny look to them. The group was all together in a way that instantly piqued my curiosity." I walked over to them and yelled, " May I ask who leads you?"

A voice from the group came at me like an arrow, " I do!" The man then began to make his way through the gang of men. "What do you want?" the man asked with some agitation in his voice. I then explained who I was and what business I had in the Inferno. After I explained myself he was much calmer. "I am Jason and these are my Argonauts," he said with pride in his voice.

I replied to him, "I am sorry. I can’t say I really know much about you."

"Nonsense," Jason growled. "Surely you have heard of the golden fleece?"

With sincerity I told him, "I have heard of the fleece, but not about you yourself." This did not help things at all. Jason began to stomp and curse.

Jason began telling his tale, "Well, sir, you are going to get an earful. So, take a seat," he said. "It all begins with Pelias. He sent me to find the Golden Fleece. This was quite the adventure let me tell you. We went all over the place. The girls loved us everywhere we went. Some of the best women we met were on the Isle of Lemnos. The ladies enamored with us. Those ladies were a bit odd though. They all had killed their husbands, but we did not care. We were the Argonauts. I was messing around with the queen. She became pregnant with my twins. It was fun on the island. Heracles was on the island too. Heracles was mad because we were having too much fun. I think he was just jealous of us. Heracles told us to leave and we did."

"You were a wild bunch, Jason. Sounds like the ladies loved you guys," I said.

"Yes, and, believe me," said Jason boastfully. "Now, back to my story. We bounced all over the sea until we finally found our prize. I claimed the Golden Fleece with the help of Medea. She was the king’s daughter at the time. Medea became my wife after I acquired the Fleece and returned. Medea helped me perform the three tasks to claim the Golden Fleece. After I got the fleece, the two of us escaped. Of course her father the king chased us. I killed Medea's brother and chopped him up. Then I left a trail of his parts behind us. Her father had to slow down to claim the parts and we escaped."

I was horrified by this account. I was also curious about Medea. So, I asked, "What happened to Medea and yourself?"

He grumbled, "Well, I tried to marry Creusa. She was the daughter of the king of Corinth. I saw the marriage as a political tool. Madea did not share the same vision as myself. So, Madea cursed a dress and gave it to Creusa. Creusa burned alive in it. Her father the king burned too, trying to save her. I promised to be Madeas forever. I broke that promise. I lost her for good. Medea also murdered our two boys. She killed them because of me. My selfishness cost the boys, their lives."

I expressed my condolence to Jason. So, then I asked why Jason was in the circle of lust.

Jason replied, "I love women. I love sex.  Everywhere, I went women threw themselves at me. I was not the type to say no. That is why I am here in the Inferno.

I inquired, "What is your punishment here?"

Jason replied, "My hormones rage and nothing can quell the fire. I am helpless to stop this curse, my friend. I guess I lucked out because they usually hang people by their genitals down here for lust."

I wasn't sure what to say at this point. After a few moments of silence I told him, "Well, Jason now I know your story. When I return I will do my best to tell your story."

Jason said to me, "Thank you, sir. Although I am in the Inferno, at least people shall know my name."

I bid Jason and the Argonauts a farewell and off I went.

Author's Note: For this story I was trying to use someone who is not as popular as many of the others I used in my storybook. I used the story of Jason and the Argonauts in my story. I tried to stick closely to the true tale of Jason. I tried to focus more the women he met rather than the adventure itself. This was used to make a reason why Jason would be in the circle of lust.  Jason and Madea really did chop up Madea's brother and use him as a tool to escape the king. Jason did try to marry Creusa for political reasons and lost his wife Madea because of it. Jason was mentioned in Dante's Inferno. Although I put him in the third circle, in Dante's Inferno he was in the eighth circle. I did know realize that until I began to research Jason for my storybook. When Jason was young he gained Hera's favor. Jason lost this favor when he pursued Creusa over Madea. Jason promised to love Madea forever and he broke that promise. Jason was killed when he was sleeping under the bow of his ship. It fell and crushed him. They say this death is because the gods cursed him for breaking his promise.

Return to the Coverpage