Telamon is the elder son of Aeacus and Endeïs, grandson of Cheiron and brother to Peleus. His sons Ajax and Teucer will play significant roles in the siege of Troy. Telamon himself was fight alongside Heracles and Peleus in the first siege of Troy to depose King Laomedon. Telamon is more sober in character than his brother, with a more reflective wisdom reminiscent of his father and grandfather. He is virtuous and respectful, but confident enough to make difficult leadership decisions for the greater good, even at a relatively young age.

As the heir to the throne of Aegina, Telamon is raised as a leader, mindful of duty and the consequences of his actions. Because he is some years older than Jason, Jason is naturally drawn more towards Peleus. When they meet Heracles, a similarity in age means these two become close friends. The relationship between Jason and Telamon, not overtly amicable from the start, is strained further when the two come into direct conflict.

Telamon's life takes him away from Aegina, to the court of King Aegeus of Athens. There he hopes to gain the support required to enable him to establish a kingdom on the nearby island of Salamis. But his innate sense of duty leads him to reluctantly accede to a position on the Argonaut crew. Whether this is the right decision, only time will tell, but always in the background is the spectre of Jason's antipathy towards Telamon.