Argo



In Greek mythology, the Argo was the ship on which Jason and the Argonauts sailed from Iolcus to retrieve the Golden Fleece. It was named the Ἀργώ after its builder, Argus.

Legend
The Argo was built by the shipwright Argus, and its crew were specially protected by the goddess Hera. The best source for the myth is the Argonautica by Apollonius Rhodius. According to a variety of sources of the legend, the Argo was said to have been planned or constructed with the help of Athena. According to other legends it contained in its prow a magical piece of timber from the sacred forest of Dodona, which could speak and render prophecies. After the successful journey, the Argo was consecrated to Poseidon in the Isthmus of Corinth. It was then translated into the sky and turned into the constellation of Argo Navis.

Several authors of antiquity (Apollonius Rhodius, Pliny, Philostephanus) discussed the hypothetical shape of the ship. Generally it was imagined like a Greek warship, a galley, and authors hypothesized that it was the first ship of this type that had gone out on a high-sea voyage.

Argo in current culture
The name Argo has carried into current culture in many different ways.
 * there is an all-terrain vehicle model named ARGO
 * high schools have used the name
 * software companies have utilized the word Argo (see Argo web browser)
 * many yachts and dinghies have registered under this name, including S/Y Argo
 * Argo was the name of Xena's horse in the television series
 * Argo Project


 * Argo the Almighty is a fictional character who appeared in the Marvel Comics' MC2 series A-Next, and son of Hercules.
 * The english-language version of Japan's animated Space Battleship Yamato renames the titular ship Argo in honor of this legendary vessel.

Replica
A replica of a Greek penteconter was completed in 2008, which was named Argo. This vesssel, with a 50-oar crew made up from all 27 European Union member countries, sailed from Jason's hometown of Volos to Venice, stopping at 23 cities en route.