Heroes: Volume II of Mythos

T HE D OLIONIANS On ploughed the Argo, through the Dardanelles and on to the Propontis, the Sea of Marmara as we call it today. On the Asian side the Argonauts came to the coastal kingdom of the Doliones, or Dolionians, ruled over by the young King CYZICUSfn33 and Queen CLITE, who welcomed them with lavish hospitality. It was while they were recovering from a night’s feasting that the Argo was attacked by a neighbouring tribe of giantsfn34, great six-armed earthborn monsters. Heracles came splendidly into his own here and led the strongest of the Argonauts out to meet them. By the time he had finished, the giants all lay dead. Cyzicus and Clite were immensely grateful to be rid of the marauding predators that had raided the kingdom for generations and urged Jason to stay for more feasting. Mindful of the time they had wasted on Lemnos, Jason thanked them but insisted that regretfully they had better get going. The night after the Argonauts’ departure a great storm caught the Argo and blew her back to the shore. But it was dark; neither the Argonauts nor the Dolionians recognised each other and fierce fighting broke out. With Heracles on their side it was unlikely that the Argonauts would lose, and before long most of the Doliones, friendly King Cyzicus included, lay dead on the ground. When morning broke, Queen Clite was the first to leave the palace. When she saw the body of her husband, whom Jason himself had unwittingly killed, she ran to her bedchamber and hanged herself. In the light of day the Argonauts discovered with horror what they had done. They helped bury the dead, made expiatory sacrifices to the gods and left the Dolionian coast in sombre mood. ‘I do think,’ Jason said to the figurehead and Idmon the Seer, ‘that you might have warned us.’ ‘You never asked,’ said Idmon. ‘There was a storm howling about our heads. Waves higher than the ship were tossing us about like leaves in the wind. How could I have asked?’ ‘Could have raised your voice, couldn’t you?’ said the figurehead. ‘Where are we sailing to now? You can at least tell me that.’ ‘Thrace,’ said Tiphys, while Idmon and the figurehead ummed, ahhed and tutted. The southern shores of Thrace, which we would call Bulgaria today, formed the northern coastline of the Propontis. The region was known for its fierce and warlike people, descended from THRAX, a son of Ares. ‘Anything we should look out for, especially?’ enquired Jason. ‘All the aitches,’ said the figurehead. ‘Aitches?’ ‘Harpies, Hylas and Heracles,’ explained Idmon.fn35 ‘What about them?’ Idmon and the figurehead would say no more.