Jason

Family: Thessalians · Role: prince · First appears: Book 6, section 1, part 1/2

Jason, a Thessalian prince, held Alcetas of Epirus among those already subject to his sway. He warned Polydamas of Pharsalus that he might march against Pharsalus unless its people joined him willingly; Polydamas of Pharsalus reported the threat at Lacedaemon and sought help. At Pharsalus, they agreed that the citadel would remain in Polydamas of Pharsalus’s keeping and that Jason could take his sons as hostages. The Pharsalians were left in peace, and Jason was soon appointed Tagos of all the Thessalians by general consent.

Once in authority, Jason drew up cavalry and infantry quotas for the states and summoned the surrounding inhabitants to pay tribute at the amount imposed in Scopas’s time. At Heraclea, he demolished the Heracleots’ fortress. During a military inspection, seven attackers killed him; his brothers Polydorus and Polyphron were appointed princes in his place.

Relationship record

Life events

• Alcetas was already subject to Jason’s sway.(Book 6, section 1, part 1/2 · 📍 Epirus)
  • With: Alcetas
  • “the Maracians, and the Dolopians, and Alcetas the hyparch in Epirus, were already subject to his sway”
• Jason told Polydamas he would march against Pharsalus unless its people joined him willingly.(Book 6, section 1, part 1/2)
  • With: Polydamas of Pharsalus
  • “he is minded to march against Pharsalus if we will not hearken to him”
• Polydamas reported Jason’s threat and sought assistance from the Lacedaemonians.(Book 6, section 1, part 1/2 · 📍 Lacedaemon)
  • With: Polydamas of Pharsalus
  • “Accordingly he bade me demand assistance from you”
• Polydamas and Jason agreed that the citadel would remain in Polydamas’s keeping and Jason could take his sons as hostages.(Book 6, section 1, part 2/2 · 📍 Pharsalus)
  • With: Polydamas of Pharsalus
  • “The citadel of Pharsalus he begged Jason not to force him to give up: his desire was to preserve it for those who had entrusted it to his safe keeping; his own sons Jason was free to take as hostages, and he would do his best to procure for him the voluntary adhesion of his city by persuasion, and in every way to further his appointment as Tagos of Thessaly.”
• The Pharsalians were left in peace, and Jason was appointed Tagos of all the Thessalians by general consent.(Book 6, section 1, part 2/2 · 📍 Pharsalus)
  • With: Polydamas of Pharsalus
  • “Accordingly, after interchange of solemn assurances between the pair, the Pharsalians were let alone and in peace, and ere long Jason was, by general consent, appointed Tagos of all the Thessalians.”
• Jason drew up a list of the cavalry and infantry quotas the states could provide.(Book 6, section 1, part 2/2 · 📍 Thessaly)
  • “Once fairly vested with that authority, he drew up a list of the cavalry and heavy infantry which the several states were capable of furnishing as their quota”
• Jason summoned the surrounding inhabitants to pay tribute at the amount imposed in Scopas’s time.(Book 6, section 1, part 2/2 · 📍 Thessaly)
  • “His next act was a summons to all the dwellers round to pay tribute exactly the amount imposed in the days of Scopas.”
• Jason demolished the fortress of the Heracleots.(Book 6, section 4, part 3/3 · 📍 Heraclea)
  • “Arrived at Heraclea, he knocked down the fortress of the Heracleots”
• Jason was killed by seven attackers during a military inspection.(Book 6, section 4, part 3/3)
  • “Suddenly by these seven the Prince was despatched; his throat gashed, his body gored with wounds.”

Book 6, section 1, part 1/2

• with Alcetas (Jason held Alcetas in subjection.) “Then with some parade he pointed out to me what I knew before, that the Maracians, and the Dolopians, and Alcetas the hyparch in Epirus, were already subject to his sway;”
• with Polydamas of Pharsalus (Jason threatened to subjugate Polydamas's city.) “Under cover of a treaty of peace he has lately conferred with me, and this is the substance of what he urged: 'Polydamas,' he said, 'if I chose I could lay your city at my feet, even against its will, as the following considerations will prove to you.”

Book 6, section 1, part 2/2

• with Polydamas of Pharsalus (They exchanged assurances concerning the citadel and the voluntary adhesion of Pharsalus.) “Accordingly, after interchange of solemn assurances between the pair, the Pharsalians were let alone and in peace, and ere long Jason was, by general consent, appointed Tagos of all the Thessalians.”
• with Polydamas of Pharsalus (Polydamas negotiated with Jason about the citadel and offered to support his appointment.) “The citadel of Pharsalus he begged Jason not to force him to give up: his desire was to preserve it for those who had entrusted it to his safe keeping; his own sons Jason was free to take as hostages, and he would do his best to procure for him the voluntary adhesion of his city by persuasion, and in every way to further his appointment as Tagos of Thessaly.”

Book 6, section 4, part 3/3

• siblings with Polydorus “So Jason was dead; and his brothers Polydorus and Polyphron were appointed princes in his place.”
• siblings with Polyphron “So Jason was dead; and his brothers Polydorus and Polyphron were appointed princes in his place.”

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Extracted from the original text of Hellenica. Made with Rho MD.