The Jason Voyage: The Quest for the Golden Fleece

Voyage #3

by Tim Severin

(Extract)

'The little galley crept up the European shore, the crew still rowing easily to save their strength before the next ordeal. I saw the millrace at Bebek point from at least half a mile away. The water was shooting round the corner in a seething mass where a rocky spur thrust out into the current flow. Whirlpools gyrated away from the edge of the race; blobs of foam dipped and spun in the hurrying current. As we drew nearer I called a warning to the crew; 'Thirty yards to go to the race ! ... Twenty .. start building up boat speed !' ... Just in front of me Mark began to say 'Couldn't we stay on this side ? Perhaps get round the point inside the current, and ..' But before he finished his sentence Argo's bow hit the race and I heard his startled gasp. It was like steering failure in a moving car . Argo simply went out of control.'

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Travel, Mythology, Adventure, Nautical, Greece

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Tim Severin was a British explorer, historian and writer. Severin is noted for his work in retracing the legendary journeys of historical figures. Severin was awarded both the Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society and the Livingstone Medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. He received the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award for his 1982 book The Sindbad Voyage.

He was born Timothy Severin in Assam, India in 1940. Severin attended Tonbridge School and studied geography and history at Keble College, Oxford.

Severin has also written historical fiction along with non fiction. The Viking Series, first published in 2005, concerns a young Viking adventurer who travels the world. In 2007 he published The Adventures of Hector Lynch series set in the late 17th century about a 17-year-old Corsair.

Reviews

[Daren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Severins third historic sea voyage, and equally as readable and interesting as his others.
An appreciable mix of the folk tale of Jason and the Argonauts, the research and construction of the new Argo (the 20 oar galley), the voyage, the archaeology and the history.

[Kirsty Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revives memories of childhood

I was intrigued by this book as I had grown up watching classic adventures on tv like Jason and the Argonauts and the Sinbad films. I really enjoyed reading about how much the author learned about the ways of ancient mariners whilst following the adventures of the original argonauts. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars was because of the obvious lack of any real proof reading on the text. Changing of people's names because of misspelling, multiple sentences made nonsensical because of inattention or spell checking corrections that weren't appropriate. Would also have liked to see more pictures and actually have them placed within the relevant chapters to really enable the reader to envisage what was happening.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This proves, in my opinion, that the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece was a story based on fact.

[Solitudes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book by Tim Severin I am reading and I have to say that, like the previous two (Brendan Expedition and Simbad Expedition) this one is also very captivating and full of both nautic and historical details. I have always been fascinated by the expeditions and travels ( I remember that as a kid my favorite book was some Russian book about the history of navigation, from the simplest logs and rafts to aircraft carriers along with a book about great explorers) and I am never getting tired of reading all kind books or articles about it and now I am happy that I've finally managed to put this one too under my (fat) belly. Even if it was not as dangerous as Brendan expedition this one has its fair share of adventures starting from Greece to ending up in our days Georgia ( at that time part of the Soviet Union) in an old galley built precisely as it would have been built in the Bronze Era, more than 3300 years ago paddling for hundreds of km in the open sea. I really liked this book and perhaps I will try to find more books by Tim.

[Koen Crolla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspired by, presumably, Thor Heyerdahl, Tim Severin spent much of the '70s and '80s and other people's money recreating some historic boat journeys; in this case, that of Jason and the Argonauts, from Iolcus (now Volos in Greece) to Colchis (now Georgia; in 1984 also Georgia, though Severin almost exclusively refers to it as Soviet Georgia).
The book covers everything from the construction of the replica Argo in Greece to their successful arrival in Poti, (Soviet) Georgia, and, in the epilogue, their engine-powered return, but Severin is neither a classicist nor an archaeologist, so many of the more interesting detail are skipped over: you'll find plenty of anecdotes illustrating the boat-builder's personality, for example, but few details regarding the construction of the ship itself, and none at all regarding the archaeological basis of the design. During the journey itself, too, Severin's thoughts on the Argonautica range far beyond what conscientious euhemerism will actually allow, with every coincidence becoming a confirmation of the definite historical fact of Jason and everything he encounters. It doesn't help that Severin's knowledge of Bronze Age Greece is rudimentary at best and tainted by Gimbutasian nonsense (the claim is made that the Olympian gods, among whom he counts Cupid for some reason (???), were unknown in Mycenaean Greece, and that a Great Earth Goddess was worshipped instead—1984 was a long time ago, but I don't think that was the state of the field even then, and if nothing else, the Olympians featured pretty heavily in Homer, whom he takes as the authority on Bronze Age Greece otherwise!)—but some of the blame surely falls on two archaeologists (Vasiliki Adrimi in Greece and Othar Lordkipanidze in (Soviet) Georgia) for filling this gullible oaf's head with nonsense.
Still, things are such that even dodgy experimental archaeology often yields useful results, and if you ignore everything Severin writes about landmarks that are definitely 100% the locations mentioned in the Argonautica, there's still actual information left about the feasibility of crossing the open sea and rough currents in a crappy galley, even with doughy and/or middle-aged rowers—even if Severin is enough of a narcissist that large swathes of his account are clearly unreliable. (At least National Geographic took a lot of pictures.)
And though the write-up is kind of a lost opportunity, it's still decent entertainment; I would have liked to have been one of the crew.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appear to be going through a Tim Severin stage as it is the third book of his I have read in recent months and enjoyed them all. This one is no exception as it brings together a well known myth, good initial research, followed by a good well written factual account of the adventure as the myth is re-enacted. It is a very entertaining formula and I will continue to read subsequent adventures.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

...here in Georgia, and at a higher level in Moscow, enormous efforts had been made to prepare for our visit - months and months of planning had been made and checked, resources delegated, schedules dovetailed, oarsmen selected and prepared, Tovarisch put on standby, an entire apparatus set in motion. All for a small open boat manned by a handful of volunteers, bobbing along at a snail's pace towards Soviet Georgia. [loc. 3489]

In 1985, Tim Severin attempted to prove the story of Jason and the Argonauts -- at least the part about the sea journey from northern Greece, through the Bosphorus and across the Black Sea to Colchis -- by ordering the construction of a reproduction Bronze Age galley, recruiting a team of rowers to row it, and making the 1500-mile journey. This is his account of the voyage, and it's a gripping read.

Severin uses Apollonius' epic poem Argonautica (written in the 3rd century before Christ) as a guide, and points out that it's the earliest story of an epic voyage: the original story seems to predate the Odyssey, and the Argo is the first named ship in history. Severin had a master shipwright build the new Argo to a design produced by a naval architect: his team consisted of volunteers, including rowing champions and the captain of a 150,000-ton supertanker, from Britain, Norway, Greece, Turkey and then-Soviet Georgia. The twenty-oar galley struggled at times -- the currents in the Bosphorus flow strongly out of the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and thence to the Aegean -- but the crew succeeded in making the journey with only sail and oar.

This was a great read, but I could have done with more context for some of Severin's statements about mythology (were the Olympian gods really unknown at the time of Jason's voyage, which Severin believes to have been no more than a generation before the Trojan War?) and some of his identifications of modern landmarks with mythological places seemed tenuous. Sadly, the Kindle version could also do with some proofreading: at one point, the Bosphorus is said to be 2112 miles wide (which is approximately 2109.5 miles in excess of actuality) whilst there are frequent references to other ships loading and receiving Argo, rather than cargo. There are also a couple of points where sentences, paragraphs or whole pages have been shuffled. A map would also have helped, but the original photographs -- and a decent translation of Apollonius -- have been included.

Fulfils the ‘Travel and Global Culture’ rubric of the Annual Non-Fiction Reading Challenge.

[Kevin Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tim Severin was one of a kind. This is an adventure in the proper sense of the world - researching and building a replica of a Bronze Age galley ship and rowing it to Georgia to retrace the route of Jason's Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece.

The Golden Fleece is a legendary story - in every sense of the world, including the fact it probably wasn't true. The Clashing Rocks, the reanimated army, the sacred goat stealing the fleece away from Greece to Georgia? Severin recounts some of these legends while, like in his Brendan Voyage, finding hints of the story in the real world, in the eddies that help his crew up the Bosphorus, the iron-rich sands of northern Turkey, and the gold panning traditions of Svaneti in Georgia (they would put a fleece in the river to pick up traces of gold as it washed downhill). It's a mix of recapping of a great story (the Argonauts), the detail of which I was only really vaguely aware of, and a look at the real journeys that might have given birth to the legend.

What really jumps out is how hard the real journey was. Even with experienced rowers in his crew, this comes across as an exceptionally tough slog - uncomfortable (sleeping on deck, sometimes in wind and rain), depressing (when hours of rowing ended with the wind blowing you back to where you started) and dangerous (when caught out for a couple of nights in a storm in the Black Sea with dwindling rations and a broken main oar). It's easy to see why people 3500 years who attempted this journey were either never heard from again, or feted as heroes for the stories of hardship they came back with.

It's also nice to see how the people along the way were so well aware of their history, and their local links with the legend of the Golden Fleece. Everywhere along their arduous journey, the crew were welcomed, assisted and celebrated by fascinated locals; multiple schools arranged school trips out to see the vessel. This was in 1984 - you'd wonder if such local pride would be as strong these days.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has sat on the shelf for about 30 years waiting for me to read it. I was glad I read this wonderful adventure story. Tim Severin and his crew of Argonauts set out to discover if the story of Jason and his seeking the Golden Fleece could have happened. From the building of the Argo in Greece to the festivals held in Georgia upon their arrival there, many stories from those along the way and their own experiences on this voyage proved it this "myth" is based on fact. It also ties into the story of Medea.

[Grindy Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern travelogue overlaid very well on the classic tale of Jason & The Argonauts. There are no skeletons with sabres or giant statues that walk, but plenty of realistic action. The author makes the legend seem plausible and tangible. Great read.

[Cynthia Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple of decades at least since I last read this but it is an absolute delight. The writing style is, for me, thoroughly enjoyable, and Severin's gift for observation and description takes the reader into the voyage with them.

[Maarten Verbrugge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastische onderneming om in een replica van de Argo naar het Gulden Vlies te varen. Weet elke stap van de reis aan de mythe te koppelen, met soms heel verrassende realisaties, die toch wel veel van de mythe weet te staven

[Callum]

this story was about how his uncle had taken his throne and put jason into hiding. jason has to clam back what is his

[Loretta]

Don't know when I first read this. Reread in 2022.

[Dann Halverson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typical awesome Severin book.

Clear and concise and informative. Fun and educational at the same time. It would be nice to have a map in the book.

[Jason]

Real wholesome, and as readable as nonfiction can get. No rating yet because I'm not finished.

[G.E.M.Simov · Rating 2 out of 5]

Real score: 5/10
https://gemsimov.com/book-reviews/f/t...

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim Severin is the man every man would love to meet. Affable in writing, detailed in observation and description, and a consumate sailor. Severin weaves a spectacular tale of adventure and exploration. Recounting the historic voyage of Jason and the Argonauts, Severin gives interesting insights into the construction of a bronze age vessel and sailing characteristics. Severin gives insights into the probable origin of some of the associated mythology, and the resurrection of almost lost naval construction skills. Reading this book one can only marvel at the early intrepid voyagers venturing into the unknown with only muscle and courage to aid them; truly this was the age of heroes. History is brought alive and vivid in Severin's book. I have read his other travelogues and he is doubtless among the best I have ever read. Regardless of whether you are an afficionado of sailing adventure or not, you'll love this. Buy it. Keep it. Revisit it often.

[Buchdoktor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avoid the kindle e-book-version!

Auch in Tim Severins drittem Buch ist mir das Thema historische Schiffe nicht langweilig geworden. Dieses Mal wird mit der "Argo" eine Galeere aus der Bronzezeit nachgebaut, um auf der Reise damit die Legende vom goldenen Vlies nachzuerleben. Die Sahnehaube der Geschichte ist die Begegnung zwischen dem Teamarbeiter Severin und einem divenhaften Bootsbauer von der griechischen Insel Spetsai, der grundsätzlich nicht nach Konstruktions-Zeichnungen arbeitet und keine Anweisungen von Auftraggebern entgegennimmt. Dagegen hat dieser empfindliche Bootsbauer-Star lebenslange Erfahrung, frisches Holz zu verbauen und ein unglaubliches Gespür, wie sich seine Konstruktion später beim Trocknen verhalten wird. Severin zeigt wie gewohnt sein geschicktes Händchen, rein zufällig Freiwillige mit unentbehrlichen Zusatzqualifikationen für das Projekt zu begeistern. Vom Tankerkapitän bis zum Spezialisten für Altgriechisch ist im Team für alles gesorgt. Die Galeerenmannschaft muss erfahren, wie seekrank man an Bord eines 20-Mann-Ruderbootes werden kann, wie rührend türkische Helfer sich um das Wohl des Teams kümmern (ich sage nur Hamam!) und wie schließlich georgische Gastfreundschaft organisiert wird.

Vom e-book-Kauf rate ich entschieden ab, die Datei ist ein mühselig zu lesendes Chaos aus falsch gesetzten Leerzeichen, die Wörter mittendrin zerhacken und einzelne Buchstaben abtrennen.

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have spent a long time reading this book, and rereading certain parts, as the technical details were important to me in my own writing about Neolithic travel. Although this journey is supposed to have occurred later than the time-frame I am writing about, much about the construction methods, the problems with steering and design, are relevant to the chalcolithic age too.
What an adventure! I am very envious of those who had the opportunity to participate in such an experimental reconstruction of an ancient voyage. The writing is good, and there is real tension in Tim Severin's telling of the events of the voyage. Excerpts from a good translation of the text of Apollonius Rhodius are inserted in the tale, and a summary of it makes up a second appendix. The first contains references to the ancestry of the legend in its various guises, and the uses of and references made to it by different scholars. There are two pages of detailed plans of the ship's design and a lot of description of its original construction on Spetses. He did enough research into places mentioned in the text and trying to identify important sites along the way to interest the classical scholar too.
An exciting read on many levels.
On to his reconstruction of the voyages of Brendan next!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

To recreate the voyage of Jason and the Argonauts and determine if the myth had any basis in fact, Tim Severin and his team plan the construction of a 20-oared Greek galley and undertake a 1,500 mile journey from Greece to Colchis in Soviet Georgia. The narrative highlights current archeological findings and landmarks associated with the original story some 22 centuries later, most strikingly a cave considered to be the mouth of Hell. The Kindle version includes a photo section and a translation of Apollonius’ version of the story which the trip was based on, but there was NO map, a serious lack for a reader trying to follow along on the journey.

[Liam Guilar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd give this five stars if my copy didn't have so many strange printing errors. I don't mean typos. The last sentence on page 31 runs over on to page 32 but makes no sense whatsoever and the launch of the Argo, on page 55 is so scrambled the last line of the page not only runs over to the next, again making no sense, but actually seems to belong to half a paragraph half way down page 55. Other than that, it's a fine story.

[Marie]

A book I wished I'd tackled sooner ! Extensively researched and with history and mythology well woven in to the saga of their efforts to copy the voyage of Jason to find the golden fleece - many doubters were proved wrong. This visits a part of the world I know little about and the technical data is well explained and the theme eclipses your imagination very early on. Nail biting at times ! I'm so glad I picked this book up !

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book that I suddenly remembered I had read years ago. Read this one in Hokkaido and think I bought it second hand in NZ. Remember it as an interesting and impressive read. Tim Severin really made sure his Jason Voyage was authentically re-enacted and conquered. Wouldn't mind reading some of his other voyages, he seems to have written a lot!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Severin is the heir apparent to the Thor Heyerdahl throne. This time, he recreated Argo and reenacts Jason's voyage from the Aegean through the Hellespont and along the southern Black Sea coast. If you like this kind of adventure tale (and I do) all of Severin's "Voyage" works are spellbinding.

[Megargee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Thor Heyerdahl with Kon Tiki, Tim Severin reconstructed an ancient craft, the Argos, recruited a crew, and set out to recreate Jason's voyage seeking the Golden Fleece. I enjoyed this account of his adventures, but was not knowledgeable enough about the Jason story to judge how faithfully he duplicated their trip.

[Joe White]

It was very difficult to row ancient boats. It is difficult to raise a crew for such a boat, and the logistics are demanding. Foreign nations around the Black Sea create complications. Tim Severin made a very goos case for his route being the basis for Jason and the Argonauts.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I possibly would have appreciated this more if I had more of an understanding of sailing/rowing terminology, and unfortunately this kindle edition was plagued with proofing errors. But overall, an enjoyable read combining modern seafaring and ancient history.

[Johan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. Did not know up to now that someone in modern times made the same voyage as the Argonauts...I may read some of his other books on similar adventures.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully done... quite a gripping account of retracing another legendary voyage...