1. As we read in Diodorus Sikeliotis(book IV) according to some writers (Herodorus, "Ogygia" Vol.V) the Argonauts came back to Iolkos through the Euxinus Pontus again. However, according to some others-because Aeetes had blocked their way back at Bosporus or because Phinneas had advised them not to try to return following the same course- the Argonauts tried to find out a new way back to Iolkos.

2. So, the second version says that the Argonauts from the Euxinus Pontus came out to the Adriatic Sea through the Istrus river (Danube) (Apollonius Rhodius imagines the Danube to link the Black Sea to the Adriatic). At this point it is worth mentioning that some historians have concluded that the Argonauts could haul the "Argo" from one river to another by using some sort of machine (Ogygia, Vol.E). When they came out into the Adriatic they sailed past the Electris Island at the mouth of the Eridanus river (Padus). Because Zeus was angry and wanted to punish them for killing Apsyrtus -Aeetes' son- he sent a furious storm upon them and let them drift out to the sea before he brought them back to Electris Island and into the Eridanus. From there through the Rodanus river (France), which was believed to flow into the Eridanus, and after having sailed past the Ligurian and Celtic nations they came out to the Sardinian Sea and then to the Tyrrhenian Sea. (Apollonius Rhodius Book IV, Apollodorus).

3. The third version which is supported by some ancient writers as well as by posterior ones -Timaeus was one of them (Diodorus Sikeliotis)- implies that the Argonauts carried out an amazing and memorable deed. Leaving Colchis behind them, the Argonauts sailed into Maeotida Lake (Azofiki) and through the Tanais river (Don) they headed northwards till they came to the place where Tanais became narrower. From there they hauled the "Argo" into another river (Volgas) whose north part flowed into the North Ocean. They sailed up the river and after passing by some barbaric nations they came near the Ripaea Mountains (Uralia) and from there through the same river (Volgas) and other rivers they came out into the Cronius Ocean (North Ocean) where they encountered violent storms and were confronted with death. According to some astronomers the planet Cronus was believed to be frozen and because it dominated over the North Ocean, the latter got frozen as well and was called Cronius after Cronus. ("Ogygia" Vol III)

They sailed past the nation of Kimmereans (Scandinavia), who were deprived of the sun, and then after nights and days of hazardous sailing they came near the Iernides Islands (Ireland, Britain). Thence heavy seas carried them away as far as Circe's Island (Madeira) where they landed. They put to sea again and through the Pillars of Hercules (The Straits of Gibraltar) they sailed into the Mediterranean Sea, past the island of Sardinia, through the Tyrrhenian Sea, touched at the island of Cicely ("the triangle shaped island" Argonautica 1257 by Orpheas) and from there they came to the island of Phaeacians (Corfu). Putting to sea from there they passed by Syrtis of Libya, then to Crete and finally back to Iolkos. ("Argonautika" by Orpheas, Diodorus Sikeliotis Book IV).

Last Updated: 21 March 1996 23:48:04