Aries

This print explores the story of Aries, and its most commonly associated Greek myth – the ram with the Golden Fleece.

It tells the story of the Greek king Athamus who took a second wife, Ino. Ino was envious of his first wife’s children, and so hatched a plot for her own progeny’s ascent to the throne. After sabotaging that year’s harvests, Ino sent Athamus to an oracle (whom she had bribed) to find out why the gods had cursed the crops. He informed Athamus that in order to please the gods and save his crops, he would need to sacrifice his eldest son Phrixos. He accepts this despite his first wife’s pleas. Zeus however, comes to her aid. At the hour of the sacrifice, he sends a beautiful ram, Aries, with a golden fleece to save Phrixos. Together they escape to Asia, where, upon the ram’s request, it is sacrificed to Zeus and spends eternity among the gods. The golden fleece is kept on earth and placed in the care of a dragon until Jason and the argonauts arrive many years later.