The Golden Fleece

Athenian kylix, attributed to Dour-is , 480–470 B.C.E.
Musée du Vatican, Inv. 16545
© Vatican Museums and Galleries, Vatican City/Bridgeman Images
It was not Jason who, sword in hand, confronted the dragon guarding the golden fleece, but the witch Medea who hypnotized it (thus, if this ceramic is to be believed, liberating the hero as he is about to be devoured). Often, as in fantasy, the dragon is an opponent that can be defeated only by magic, not by ordinary combat. Legends tell of not only its exceptional strength but also its supernatural powers and intelligence, as clever as it is wise.
© BnF, Éditions multimédias, 2020