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THE LAST WORD ON THE GOLDEN FLEECE LEGEND?
Author(s) -
RYDER M.L.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
oxford journal of archaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1468-0092
pISSN - 0262-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-0092.1991.tb00005.x
Subject(s) - legend , epithet , wool , value (mathematics) , archaeology , art , history , genealogy , literature , mathematics , statistics
Summary. Evidence is discussed for the three theories on the origins of the Golden Fleece legend. That the epithet ‘golden’referred to fine wool, because of its value, is thought to be not incompatible with the view that fleeces were used to collect gold particles from streams. That the fleece was yellow is unlikely since such discoloration is a wool fault, but it is just possible that ‘golden’ might refer to genetically ‘tan’ fibres.