ARGONAUTS, in Antiquity, a Company of fifty-two or fifty-four Heroes, who embarked along with Jason, in the Ship Argo, for Colchis; with a Design to obtain the golden Fleece. See ARGO and FLEECE.
Hercules, Theseus, Castor, Orpheus, &c. were of the Number of the Argonauts.
Argonauts of St. Nicholas,was the Name of a military Order instituted by Charles III, King of Naples, towards the End of the 14th Century. See ORDER and KNIGHT. They wore a Collar of Shells, enclosed in a Silver Crescent, whence hung a Ship with this Device, Nox credo Tempori, I don't trust Time. Hence these Argonaut-Knights came to be called Knights of the Shell. They received the Order of St. Basil Archbishop of Naples, and held their Assemblies in the Church of St. Nicholas, their Patron.
