The Atlantis Project
Learning from Yesterday's Legends

The Eagle, Atlantis and the Golden Fleece

Colchis was the eastern city where the sun rose on the Mythic Greek world. Its King Aetes, whose name means Eagle, gave refuge to Phrixos and even welcomed him into his family. Aetes was a son of Helios, Titan of the Sun.

Khrysomallos aka Krios, the flying ram that brought Phrixos safely to Colchis, was sacrificed to Zeus and his pelt hung from a tree in the nearby field of Ares. This pelt, better known as the Golden Fleece, became a symbol of divine favor and brought peace and prosperity to the land of Colchis. It was guarded by a dragon.

Phrixos and his sister Helle were fugitives. They fled from Boeotia when their life was placed in peril by Boeotia's new Queen. Alas, Helle lost her life en route to the promised land. Phrixos reached Colchis, was well received, prospered, and brought prosperity to the land that welcomed and sheltered him.  

An Age of Heroes Initiative

The plaque on the Statue of Liberty proclaims: Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

New York is the city where the sun symbolically rises over America. It is the Golden Door to the New Atlantis. And as in much earlier times, Lady Liberty blesses all who arrive seeking refuge, seeking a fresh start, seeking opportunity. They add variety, flavor and spice to the melting pot until they acculturate and emerge as Americans.

America is also the land of the Eagle. The Eagle on the Great Seal of the United States grasps a banner in its beak that says E PLURIBUS UNUM, Latin for One from Many. This motto expresses who we are and what we believe. The strength of diversity is reinforced by the arrows clutched in the Eagle's claws. Separately, each arrow is easily broken. Together they are very difficult to break. The thirteen arrows represent the original thirteen colonies, as do the thirteen olives. Together they inform us that America has 'a strong desire for peace, but will always be ready for war'.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. These are what America promises and this is what we as Americans must come together to defend. Although the Golden Fleece brought peace and good fortune to Colchis, it was guarded by a dragon on the field of Mars.

Onwards!

Hercules Invictus