Aeëtes and Jason

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Aeëtes could see clearly that Jason lusted after the Golden Fleece and would not depart Colchis without obtaining it. Fearing to confront him directly, the cunning king promised Jason he would grant him the fleece if Jason completed certain tasks. One of these was to sow dragon’s teeth. As soon as these teeth touched the fertile black soil, scores of fearsome warriors sprang to life.

But Jason had been forewarned, and he cast a rock amongst them. The warriors were startled and suspected one another of casting the rock, and so began to fight among themselves. Since they were deceived with a rock, these warriors were then known as Vrachoi, or ‘rocks’.

Aeëtes was thus outwitted and soon lost the famous Fleece…