Pelias
The king of Iolcus who gives Jason the Fleece quest after recognising the one-sandal oracle.
Overview
Pelias converts political fear into geographic distance. Rather than strike Jason openly, he devises a lethal errand across sea, Clashing Rocks and a foreign kingdom, hoping the expedition itself removes the threat.
Key facts
Fear of the one-sandal man
The oracle tells Pelias to beware the man appearing with one sandal; Jason’s arrival gives the warning a body.
The Fleece as removal
Pelias assigns the recovery of the Fleece so a political rival must take a road from which return appears unlikely.
Relationships
Story appearances
- The ArgonautsPelias in the Argonaut expedition
Pelias enters this story through the Argonaut expedition; other versions are handled where their own episodes call for them.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.