Key Points

- 55-85 heroes who accompany Jason on the Golden Fleece Quest

- Named after the ship The Argo  

Brief Bio

Theway in which the argonauts were selected and the details of each crew member vary depending on the source. In the beginning of his journey Jason prayed to Zeus and a branch fell from a tree and landed at his feet. The branch was used in the prow of the ship for a good omen. Shortly after consulting Zeus Jason meets Hercules. Jason asks Hercules to be leader of the voyage and he agrees as long as he can choose the crew.

In the hall of Pelias while dining Hercules stands up and says "first of all I order all those guests of King Pelias who wish to sail with me to Colchis in the Argo to range themselves on my right hand; and those who do not wish to sail to range themselves on my left hand". Fifty men move to his right and thirty move to his left. The thirty that do not wish to go on the voyage are labeled cowards and ordered to leave their cloths in a pile at Pelias’ feet as a gift in return for his hospitality and as punishment for their cowardness.  

After this incident Hercules tells Jason that he thinks himself to be unlucky and requests that his steward Hylas be allowed to make the selection instead. Jason consents and all of the Minyans stand aside because they are guaranteed a spot on the ship. The were fifteen Minyans. Hylas made several choices, amongst them were the men who were sons of Zeus, the Northern Wind and Apollo along with others of godly lineage. 

Hercules had the last twenty men battle for the last three spots on the ship. The winners were Butes, Phalerus and Ancaeus. These are the members that were chosen by Hercules and Hylas but some of them did not actually sail on the ship. The unknown Minyan brothers chickened out in the night and two others took their place.