<P> In Greek mythology, the Golden Fleece (Greek: χρυσόμαλλον δέρας chrysómallon déras) is the fleece of the gold - haired winged ram, which was held in Colchis . The fleece is a symbol of authority and kingship . </P> <P> It figures in the tale of the hero Jason and his crew of Argonauts, who set out on a quest for the fleece by order of King Pelias, in order to place Jason rightfully on the throne of Iolcus in Thessaly . Through the help of Medea, they acquire the Golden Fleece . The story is of great antiquity and was current in the time of Homer (eighth century BCE). It survives in various forms, among which the details vary . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Greek mythology </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Deities </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> <Ul> <Li> Primordial </Li> <Li> Titans </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> <Ul> <Li> Olympians </Li> <Li> Nymphs </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> <Ul> <Li> Sea - deities </Li> <Li> Earth - deities </Li> </Ul> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Heroes and heroism </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Heracles / Hercules (Labors) </Li> <Li> <Ul> <Li> Achilles </Li> <Li> Hector (Trojan War) </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Odysseus (Odyssey) </Li> <Li> <Ul> <Li> Jason </Li> <Li> Argonauts (Golden Fleece) </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> <Ul> <Li> Perseus (Medusa </Li> <Li> Gorgon) </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Oedipus (Sphinx) </Li> <Li> Orpheus (Orphism) </Li> <Li> Theseus (Minotaur) </Li> <Li> <Ul> <Li> Bellerophon (Pegasus </Li> <Li> Chimera) </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Daedalus (Labyrinth) </Li> <Li> <Ul> <Li> Atalanta </Li> <Li> Hippomenes (Golden apple) </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Cadmus (Thebes) </Li> <Li> Aeneas (Aeneid) </Li> <Li> Triptolemus (Eleusinian Mysteries) </Li> <Li> Pelops (Ancient Olympic Games) </Li> <Li> Pirithous (Centauromachy) </Li> <Li> Amphitryon (Teumessian fox) </Li> <Li> Narcissus (Narcissism) </Li> <Li> Meleager (Calydonian Boar) </Li> <Li> Otrera (Amazons) </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Related </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> <Ul> <Li> Satyrs </Li> <Li> Centaurs </Li> <Li> Dragons </Li> <Li> Demogorgon </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Religion in Ancient Greece </Li> <Li> Mycenaean gods </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Greek mythology portal </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

One reason that the argonaut's quest for the golden fleece is so important is that it