Tradition: Greek mythology
Alternative Names: Colchian Dragon, Dragon of the Golden Fleece
Category: Dragon
The Myth
The Colchis Dragon was a sleepless dragon that guarded the Golden Fleece in Colchis. It watched over the fleece belonging to King Aeetes, which had been given to him by Phrixus.
Jason arrived in Colchis seeking the Golden Fleece. Aeetes promised to give it to him, but only if Jason completed three difficult tasks. Jason became discouraged when he heard what was required, but Medea, the daughter of Aeetes, had fallen in love with him after Hera persuaded Aphrodite to have Eros cause her to love him. Medea therefore decided to help Jason.
Jason first had to yoke and plow a field using the Khalkotauroi, fire-breathing oxen. Medea gave him an ointment that protected him from their flames. He then sowed dragon’s teeth into the field. The teeth grew into an army of warriors, the Spartoi. Medea had warned Jason about them and told him how to defeat them. Jason threw a rock among the warriors, causing them to attack one another until they had destroyed themselves.
His final task was to overcome the sleepless dragon guarding the Golden Fleece. Medea gave Jason a potion made from herbs, which he sprayed upon the dragon. The potion caused the dragon to fall asleep.
With the dragon asleep, Jason seized the Golden Fleece and escaped with Medea. The two sailed away while Medea distracted her father, Aeetes, who pursued them. Medea killed her brother Apsyrtus and threw pieces of his body into the sea, forcing Aeetes to stop and gather them. In another version, Medea lured Apsyrtus into a trap, where Jason killed him and buried his body after cutting off his fingers and toes. Jason and Medea ultimately escaped.
Sources
“Jason.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 19, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason#The_arrival_in_Colchis