The lines I chose for this project were 123 through 158 of book seven of Ovid’s “Metamorphosis”. This section of Jason and Medea’s story comes relatively early within book seven but is around the middle of the entire “Metamorphosis”, which is 15 books long. Preceding the story of Jason, Ovid tells the story of Boreas and Orithyia (end of book six). Boreas, the god of the northern wind, loved a nymph named Orithyia, but she refused to marry him. After failing to win her over by charm, Boreas decides he must take her forcefully, raping and forcing their marriage. Orithyia then has two sons named Calais and Zetes, and the story abruptly jumps forwards in time to when the boys have grown up. Book six ends with Calais and Zetes joining the Argonauts (Jason’s crew of heroes) and sailing to find the golden fleece, providing an interesting transition into the story of Jason and Medea. The placement of the story of Jason and Medea directly after that of Boreas and Orithyia invites the reader to juxtapose the different plot lines and characters. For example, Medea and her immense love for Jason are contrasted with Orithyia and her lack of love for Boreas. Also, Boreas’s fiery passion for Orithyia contrasts with Jason, who leaves Medea for the princess of Corinth after winning the golden fleece. After Calais and Zetes join the Argonauts, the Argonauts set sail and make their way to Colchis, where Medea sees Jason and falls in love. Jason agrees to marry her, in exchange for her help in winning the golden fleece from her father, King Aeetes. She gives him some magic herbs, and the next morning, Jason must complete three tasks in order to win the golden fleece. His first task is to plow a field with fire breathing oxen, which he is able to do easily with help from Medea’s magic herbs. The lines I chose describe his second and third tasks, which were to defeat an army of Spartoi and to retrieve the golden fleece, which is protected by a dragon. The story soon takes a dark turn. Some time after winning the golden fleece, Jason returns to Colchis with his new wife, Medea, to reclaim the throne from his step-uncle, Pelias. However, the locals take issue with Medea, who is not only foreign but also a sorceress, and the couple are driven into exile in Corinth. The King of Corinth sees Jason and offers him his daughter’s hand in marriage, and Jason accepts. Medea is furious and kills Jason’s children along with his new wife, and flees to Mount Olympos. Jason is devastated and returns his ship to mourn, where the ship’s mast snaps off and kills him instantly. There have been multiple versions of this Greek tragedy told throughout history, each having slightly different details but still maintaining the same general plotline. For example, in some versions of the story, there is a prophecy that someone with one sandal will reclaim the throne of Iolcos (and Jason loses a sandal crossing a river while carrying Hera), but there is no mention of this in Ovid's telling. The original myth is thought to have first been told by a Roman author named Apollonius of Rhodes around 250 BC, and was retold by Ovid around 8 AD. This epic poem has been passed from generation to generation for over 2000 years, and has even inspired current movies and books, such as Rick Riordan’s series “The Heroes of Olympus”. Overall, it is remarkable to see the influence that Greek tragedies in general, and this story in particular, have had on our society’s culture.