Volos – a significant port in Central Greece
As one of the largest cities in Greece and a major port, Volos is located on the Pelion peninsula in Central Greece. A natural harbour in the Pagasetic Gulf, named after the major historic port of Pagasae, where in ancient mythology Jason built his ship, the Argo, and from which he sailed to get the golden fleece from Colchis.
Volos is a big, bustling city, but its lengthy waterfront – encompassed by Mount Pelion – provides a special atmosphere: one can easily imagine mythical beings lingering around.
What do we know from Greek mythology about this astonishing place?
According to legend, the Pelion peninsula was the summer retreat of the 12 Olympian gods. Understandably so, as from the little mountain villages, the view of the gulf is spectacular, all angles showing slightly different but unarguably beautiful outlooks. Worthy of the Olympians’ attention. Even the King of the Gods enjoyed this place. While vacationing here, Zeus threw stones into the sea, and the Sporades islands were created.
Jason and the Trojan War
Volos was Jason’s harbour, the Pelion was the God’s holiday destination, and the list continues: I love the fact that wherever I go in Greece, mythology is always present.
The whole Trojan story started here, in the forests of the Pelion peninsula. Thetis and Peleus married here, and all the gods were invited to their wedding, except Eris. The goddess of strife and discord took revenge by throwing a golden apple amidst Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera with the inscription “To the fairest”. Of course, they began to argue over who the apple was gifted to. Zeus advised that Paris, the Prince of Troy, should choose the most beautiful and end the argument. He chose Aphrodite, who promised him the heart of the most beautiful woman. Unfortunately, this woman, Helen of Troy, was already married, and Paris’ choice led to the Trojan War.
The centaurs
Pelion is also known as the homeland of the centaurs. These fascinating half-man, half-horse creatures were wild, lustful, and fierce. Yet they themselves are just as intriguing as their origin story. Ixion, the King of Lapiths (speculated to be Ares’ son), was admitted to Olympus by Zeus after he purified him. Ixion had killed his father-in-law, and murdering a family member was one of the most serious crimes in Ancient Greece; therefore, he needed purification from Zeus, the King of the Gods, himself. Nonetheless, Ixion was not very grateful, as he fell in love with Zeus’ wife, the beautiful Hera, and tried to seduce her. Zeus tricked him and made Nephele – the cloud goddess – into the shape of Hera. Ixion fell into the trap and mated with her. From their union, a deformed child, Centaurus, was born. He could not find peace between the humans and isolated himself in the mountains of the Pelion peninsula. There, he roamed freely and, with the Magnesian stallions, formed the centaur race.
The king of the centaurs, the wise Chiron (Kheiron), was unlike his race. He was a half-brother of Zeus, the son of the titan, Cronus, and the nymph, Philyra, not the son of Centaurus. When Cronus had an affair with Philyra, his wife Rea interrupted them, and the titan god disguised himself as a horse to escape his wife’s fury, and the result was this composite creature, Chiron.
Chiron was a prominent teacher who mentored several great heroes, including Jason, Achilleus, Peleus and the renowned physician Asclepius.
The most righteous of the centaurs – as Homer called him – was accidentally wounded by Heracles while fighting with the other centaurs. Heracles used the Hydra’s venom on his arrow, which made the wound incurable and caused intolerable pain to Chiron. He asked Zeus to help him die by giving up his immortality. Zeus granted him mercy and let him die but placed him amongst the stars as the constellation Centaurus (Sagittarius) to be remembered and adored for all eternity.
What a great article. I truly enjoyed it.