Medea and Talos
The bronze guardian Talos blocks the Argonauts from landing on Crete, until Medea turns her magic against the seemingly invulnerable giant.
The Story
Near the end of their return voyage, the Argonauts reached Crete.
The island was guarded by Talos.
Talos was a bronze being who patrolled the coast and prevented strangers from landing.
He hurled enormous rocks toward approaching ships.
The Argo could not safely reach the shore while he remained active.
Medea confronted the problem.
In Apollonius' account, she used magic and destructive supernatural powers against the bronze guardian.
Talos possessed a vulnerable point around his ankle.
When that weakness was opened, the divine fluid within him escaped.
The enormous bronze figure collapsed.
The Argonauts were finally able to land on Crete.
Talos is one of the strangest beings encountered during the expedition.
He is neither an ordinary monster nor a mortal warrior.
His metallic body and tireless guardianship make him one of Greek mythology's closest equivalents to an artificial living machine.
Key Figures
Why It Matters
Talos adds one of the most distinctive supernatural episodes to the Argonauts' return and again places Medea's power at the centre of their survival.
Traditions & Variations
Ancient accounts differ over Talos' origin and precisely how Medea defeats him. His vulnerable ankle and the loss of the life-fluid within him are prominent traditions.