Myth Madness: A Mythology Podcast

Peleus is a Greek hero who is not well known today but was important during ancient times. He was an Argonaut searching for the Golden Fleece, and a hunter for the Calydonian Boar. Peleus enjoyed a special relationship with the centaur Chiron, and the fondness of the Olympian gods. His most important myth was his marriage to the goddess Thetis.

A few special events in Greek mythology have multiple heroes from different parts of Greece come together to get a job done. One of these was the Hunt for the Calydonian Boar. The boar was sent by an angry Artemis and terrorized the woods of Calydon. The hero Meleager organized a party of heroes to stop the beast’s rampage through his homeland. A key figure was the female hunter Atalanta. This episode covers her role in the Hunt and what she did afterwards.

Orpheus was a hero from the Greek region of Thrace. The the ancient Greeks considered Thrace a wild and barbarous place full of warring tribes. Surprisingly though, Orpheus was not warlike. He was a talented musician and a keeper of strange sacred knowledge. The best-known myth about Orpheus involves his wife Eurydice and his descent to the underworld to rescue her. This episode also explores the Orphic Argonautica, which tells the story of the Golden Fleece from Orpheus’ perspective. 

In the last four episodes, I covered the story of Jason and the Argonauts. In the poem the Argonautika, which was the basis of my retelling, the success of their adventure mostly revolved around the actions of the young woman Medea. This episode continues on from last time and tells what happened to Medea after she returned with Jason to Greece. I also go into more detail on the figure of Medea herself. She had a very well-developed body of mythic material going back to the earliest days of ancient Greece.

With the Golden Fleece secured, Jason and his crew of heroes made the long voyage back home to Greece. Along the way, they were chased by fleets of angry and vindictive enemies, and made their way through a series of dangerous trials. The anger of gods made the voyage dangerous and only the aid of goddesses made their return possible.

Some topic covered:

• The Pursuit of the Argo
• The Murder of Absyrtus
• The Marriage of Jason and Medea
• Talos, the Bronze Giant
• Hints of lost versions

The Golden Fleece was possessed by Aeetes, king of the faraway land of Colchis. This episode will cover Jason and the Argonaut’s arrival in Colchis, what happened there with Aeetes, and their departure. Find out if the actions of goddesses and a love-struck daughter would be enough to ensure Jason’s success.

Last episode began a retelling of the Greek hero Jason’s quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece. This task was given to him by his cruel half-uncle Pelias who hoped the dangerous quest would kill his nephew. Fortunately for Jason, the gods were fond of him, and he had the support of various Greek heroes. The group set out in a ship for where the Golden Fleece was located. This episode covers the adventures they had on the way.

• Hypsipyle and the Women of Lemnos
• Cyzicus and the Doliones
• The Abandonment of Heracles
• Amycus the Arrogant Boxer
• Phineas and the Harpies
• The Clashing Rocks
• The Stymphalian Birds

The next few episodes will cover the myths surrounding not just one hero but a whole crew of them. This group – called the Argonauts – are lead by a man named Jason. They all go on a quest to retrieve a fabulous treasure called the Golden Fleece. This is a very special adventure. It is one of a few events in Greek myth where a large group of heroes from the same generation come together for a specific reason. This episode covers:

• What is the Golden Fleece?
• Why was Jason sent to retrieve the Golden Fleece?
• Who were the heroes who joined Jason on the adventure?

Chiron is a hero not like other Greek heroes. First, he isn’t human. He’s a centaur. But unlike, most Greek centaurs who are wild, unpredictable, and dangerous; Chiron is wise and patient. Second, Chiron doesn’t go on his own adventures. Instead, he trains other heroes and makes them ready for their own. Many of Greek mythology’s most famous heroes were Chiron’s students. This episode covers Chiron, some of his less well-known students, and what he taught them. 

The end of the famous 12 Labours was not the end of Heracles’s heroic career. He went on plenty of other exploits afterwards. The event that triggered the Labours was when Heracles went into an insane rage – sometimes according to the will of the goddess Hera – and killed his newly formed family. The Labours allowed him to gain forgiveness in the eyes of gods and men. With his tasks complete, you might think Heracles had learned a lesson, matured, and changed for the better. HE DID NOT. Heracles continued to make many of the same mistakes. He completed many more glorious quests, but those mistakes eventually lead to his demise.