We've made it to the end of The Argonautica this week, and I don't know about you, but I am pleasantly surprised. The balance of suffering, deceit, and empathy in the final book made for an unexpectedly happy ending.

Questions are in the comments.

Summary

As Aietes plots to kill the Argonauts, Hera strikes fear into Medea. Medea flees her home, heading to Jason where she pleads for her life. Jason avows marriage in exchange for Medea's help subduing the dragon that guards the golden fleece.

With the fleece secured, the Argo heads for home. They encounter the Colchian navy, and through deceit, lure Apsyrtos, Medea's brother, away from the ships and murder him. Protected by Hera, the Argo flees. Jason and Medea are purified for their supplication by Kirke - Medea's Aunt, who sends them on their way with a warning that Aietes will send more Colchians after her.

Meanwhile, Hera mobilizes Hephaestus, Thetis, the Nereids, and Zephyr to ensure the Argo can make it passed the Scylla, Charybdis, and avoid being smashed against the Plankton Rocks. From there the Argo travels to the island of the Phaeaceans.

Arete, wife of King Alkinoos, takes pity on Medea. When the Colchians make their way to the Phaeacean Island's, Arete pleads with the King to take pity on Medea. As a result, King Alkinoos decrees that Medea will only be handed over to the Colchians and given to her father if Medea has not married and consummated her relationship with Jason. That evening, Jason and Medea hurriedly marry, in hopes the King is true to his word. When their marriage is ackowledged, the Colchians, fearing Aietes rage, ask the King to allow them to stay.

In the final leg of their journey home, the Argo is blown off course during 9 days and nights of storms, and becomes stranded in the stagnant waters of Lake Titon. As the crew disembarks and loses hope in the desert, the heroine guardians of Libya appear to Jason with a prophecy. Jason gathers the crew to discuss the prophecy, and Peleus declares that the prophecy means the men must carry the Argo across the desert on their backs to a sea that will take them home.

They plead to the gods and end up being directed to a spring that Herakles himself had created as he wandered the very same desert. Five of the crew left in search of Herakles, though none found him. Orpheus had them offer the last tripod of Apollo to the local gods as propitiation for their return to the sea. Triton sprang up, and giving Eurypylos a clump of dirt, pointed the Argo back toward the open sea. Eurypylos throws the dirt into the sea, creating the island Kalliste. After the island is created, the Argo sped back to Iolkos.