Serpent (symbolism) of a snake-handler, and it was in serpent form that Zeus was said to have fathered Alexander upon her. Aeetes, the king of Colchis and father of the sorceress Medea, possessed the Golden Fleece. He guarded it with a massive serpent that never slept. Medea, who had fallen in love with Jason of the Argonauts, enchanted it to sleep so Jason could seize the Fleece. (See Lamia (mythology)). When not driven by horses, the chariot of the Greek sun god is described as being pulled by fiery draconic beings. The most notable instance of this is observed in the episode
Golden Fleece (clipper) sails, and much of her rigging on an outbound voyage from New York. She put in for repairs in Rio de Janeiro. "Golden Fleece" made only one voyage from the East Coast with a destination other than San Francisco, in 1871. She left New York bound for Bombay with a load of ice on July 1, 1871, under Captain Bray. Three days out, a fire was spotted at the bottom of the forward hold, in the sawdust and shavings used to pack the 1902 tons of ice. Since it was not possible to extinguish the fire, "Golden Fleece" put in