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The Argonaut Epos and Bronze Age Economic History
by Morris Silver
Revised May 14, 1999

Although this is a matter of dispute among linguists and regarded as not proven, it does seem possible that in Ugarit the same word argamannu (alphabetic argmn or irgmn) meant both 'purple' and 'tribute'. (van Soldt [1990: 344] maintains that argmn means only 'tribute' in the Ugaritic texts.) It is clear, however, that in the first millennium, in areas of Hittite background, the Akkadian word argamannu means both 'red purple wool' and 'tribute' (CAD s.v. argamannu)... Where did the Mycenaean gold come from? In the absence of significant production within Greece, it must have been of foreign origin (see Chadwick 1976: 45). However, neither the Linear B texts nor archaeology pinpoint the foreign source(s). However, it is reported that about 20 percent of the analyzed Mycenaean gold is of the tin-and platinum-free type also found in the rich gold found at Varna on the Bulgarian coast of the Black Sea (Muhly 1983: 3-4, citing Hartmann)... Hiller (1991: 214) notes a "striking correspondence" between names in the Argonaut epos and names in Mycenaean Linear B, especially from Pylos: He lists Aiaia (the island of Aia), Aites (the Lord of Aia), Athamas (father of Phrixos), Kretheus (brother of Athamas), Amythaon (son of Kretheus), Iason (leader of the Argonauts), Mopsos (seer of Argonauts), and Lynkeus (spy of Argonauts).

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Speaking of Bulgarian sources for Minoan / Mycenaean gold:

German Scientists: Europe's Oldest Script Found in Bulgaria
Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Ancient tablets found in South Bulgaria... unearthed near the Southern town of Kardzhali, are over 35-centuries old, and bear the ancient script of the Cretan (Minoan) civilization, according to scientists from the University of Heidelberg, who examined the foundings. This is the Cretan writing, also known as Linear A script, which dates back to XV-XIV century B.C.