“ARGONAUT” was the name given to the Marine Vessel owned and operated by Underwater TV hero “Mike Nelson” in the Hit TV show “Sea Hunt“. The name “ARGONAUT” was derived from the notorious Greek Mythological tales of “Jason and his Argonauts“. The story is told about a brave group of sailors in search of a special Golden Fleece in which it contains certain magical powers. Jason was the leader and captain of the crew. The Crew and brave Soldiers were called “Argonauts“. Jason and his Argonauts sailed on a ship named the “ARGO“.
It is said that “Argo” was the first ship to ever sail our great worlds oceans. “Argo” was hand crafted by the knowledgeable and respected shipwright “Argus“. “Argus“. was also a crew member and Argonaut. The ARGO was in hence named after its builder Argus. In the popular Greek tale, we read that Argus was guided in the planning and construction of Argo by the goddess “Athena“. The goddess Athena also helped in setting the sails on the Argo and furthermore, instructed its crew members on understanding all the proper functions and usages of this very special sailing vessel.
Though out their adventures, “Argo” and its band of “Argonauts” were continuously watched over and protected by the goddess “Hera“. The tales describe their adventures as they sailed from Lolcos to Colchis in order to retrieve the revered Golden Fleece. Mostly, one of the most special and interesting features about Argo was that this brave vessel contained a magical remnant of timber from the legendary sacred forest of Dodona in the ships Prow. The prow is the forward-most part of a ships bow that cuts through the water just above the waterline. This magical piece of timber was said to have the ability to speak and render prophecies. Described by Homer, Dodona was an oracle of Zeus. Dodona was considered second only to the oracle of Delphi in prestige.
After the successful and adventurous sea faring journey by Jason and his brave Argonauts, the Argo was later consecrated to Poseidon in the Isthmus of Corinth (the narrow land bridge that connects the Peloponnese peninsula with the rest of the mainland of Greece). It is located near the city of Corinth. After ARGO was consecrated in the Isthmus of Corinth, she was then translated into the heavens and converted into our Constellation that we know today as the Constellation Argo Navis.
