Constellation
Aries - The Ram
Object name: Aries
Equatorial: RA: 02h 39m 56s Dec: +20°07'03"(current)
Equatorial 2000: RA: 02h 39m 36s Dec: +20°05'24"
Sky Database: Constellation
Abbreviation: Ari
Genitive Form: Arietis
Description: The Ram
Pronunciation: AY' rih eez
Genitive Pronunciation: uh RY' eh tis
Aries - The Ram
Aries
is the ram whose golden fleece was coveted by Jason and the
Argonauts during their epic voyage to Colchis. Nephele, wife
of King Athamas of Boeotia, called the ram down from the sky to save
her son, Phrixus, from sacrifice to Zeus. Phrixus and his
sister Helle escaped Zeus by flying away on the ram.
Afterwards Phrixus sacrificed the ram and hung its fleece in the
Grove of Ares, where it magically transformed into gold.
The golden fleece eventually feel
into the hands of the dreaded King Aeetes of Colchis. Jason
had to steal the golden fleece from King Aeetes in order to claim
the throne of Iolcus in Thessaly. After successfully returning
to Greece, Jason hung the fleece in the temple of Zeus in Orchomenus.
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