In Greek mythology, Chrysomallos was the ram whose fleece became the Golden Fleece.
Chrysomallos was a divine, winged ram sent to rescue Phrixus and Helle, the children of Athamas and Nephele. During their escape, Helle fell into the strait later called the Hellespont, while Phrixus reached Colchis. There he sacrificed the ram to Zeus and gave its golden fleece to King Aeetes.
Aeetes hung the fleece in a sacred grove of Ares and appointed a sleepless dragon to guard it. Years later, Jason and the Argonauts traveled to Colchis to obtain the fleece as part of Jason’s claim to the throne of Iolcus. Medea helped Jason overcome the guarding dragon and complete the quest.
Chrysomallos is sometimes overlooked because retellings focus on Jason rather than the ram’s earlier story. The name combines Greek words associated with gold and fleece or wool.