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Jason

Mythology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Hero of Greek myth who led the Argonauts on a quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece, aided by Medea’s magical intervention.

Detailed Definition
Jason, heir to Iolcus, undertook a perilous voyage with heroes like Orpheus and Heracles to reclaim his throne. His betrayal of Medea led to tragedy. In poetry, Jason symbolizes ambition, the hero’s journey, and the moral complexities of leadership and loyalty.
Example
Example in poetry:
Apollonius Rhodius’s Argonautica centers on Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece; Ovid’s Metamorphoses recounts his betrayal of Medea; Euripides’ Medea dramatizes his abandonment of his wife; Pindar’s Fourth Pythian Ode celebrates his heroic voyage; Later epic uses Jason as a complex hero of ambition and moral failure; In allegory, he symbolizes the perilous pursuit of glory.
Additional Notes
Jason, leader of the Argonauts, retrieves the Golden Fleece with Medea’s help but later betrays her (Euripides’ Medea). Students should examine his moral ambiguity: heroic quester vs. faithless husband. His name becomes synonymous with ambitious but flawed leadership. Later, he symbolizes the cost of glory. Related: Medea, Argonauts, betrayal motifs.
Other Meanings of “Jason”
Also Known As
Jason the Fleece-Seeker Captain of the Argo Son of Aeson Husband of Medea
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