Jason, the son of Aeson, the king of Iolcos, had an eventful babyhood. His power-hungry half-brother, Pelias, overthrew Aeson, the rightful king, to attain dominion over Thessaly. He murdered all his surviving relatives. Luckily for Jason, who was a newborn, Alcimide, his mother, saved him by pretending that he was still born. She sent the baby to the centaur, Chiron, with whom she claimed a relationship, which rattled Pelias. He consulted an oracle who warned him of a man wearing one sandal.