Jason had the vessel constructed by the worthy shipwright Argus, who in a fit of vanity named her, Argo, more or less after himself.

In Dyer's poem of "The Fleece" there is an account of the ship "Argo" and her crew, which gives a good picture of this primitive maritime adventure:


"From every region of AEgea's shore
The brave assembled;
those illustrious twins
Castor and Pollux;
Orpheus, tuneful bard;
Zetes and Calais, as the wind in speed;
Strong Hercules and many a chief renowned.
On deep Ioclos' sandy shore they thronged,
Gleaming in armour, ardent of exploits;
And soon, the laurel cord and the huge stone
Uplifting to the deck, unmoored the bark;
Whose keel of wondrous length the skilful hand
Of Argus fashioned for the proud attempt;
And in the extended keel a lofty mast
Upraised, and sails full swelling;
to the chiefsUnwonted objects.
Now first, now they learned
Their bolder steerage over ocean wave,
Led by the golden stars, as Chiron's art
Had marked the sphere celestial," etc.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Argos on 2001-11-29 06:23 ]</font>