Aeetes

First appears: Apollodorus, Library 1.9

🌐 Also appears in: The Metamorphoses of Ovid (as Æetes)

Aeetes was the son of Helios and Perseis, and brother of Circe, Pasiphae, and Perses. He took Idyia as his wife and was the father of Chalciope, Medea, and Apsyrtus. He received Phrixus and gave him Chalciope as a wife; later, Perses deposed him, but Medea killed Perses and restored the kingdom to her father.

At Colchis, Medea brought Jason to the Golden Fleece by night, drugged the guarding dragon, took the fleece, and escaped with Jason and Argus. When Aeetes pursued them, Medea murdered Apsyrtus and scattered his dismembered body in the deep to delay him.

Relationship record

Life events

• Medea drugs the dragon, takes the Golden Fleece, and escapes with Jason.(Apollodorus, Library 1.9 · 📍 Colchis)
  • With: Jason Medea Argus
  • “But before he could do so, Medea brought Jason by night to the fleece, and having lulled to sleep by her drugs the dragon that guarded it, she possessed herself of the fleece and in Jason's company came to the Argo.”
• Medea murders Apsyrtus and scatters his dismembered body to delay Aeetes's pursuit.(Apollodorus, Library 1.9)
  • With: Medea Apsyrtus
  • “But when she saw him near, Medea murdered her brother and cutting him limb from limb threw the pieces into the deep.”

Apollodorus, Library 1.9

• child: Chalciope “He received Phrixus and gave him one of his daughters, Chalciope.”
• child: Medea “she was a witch, daughter of Aeetes and Idyia, daughter of Ocean.”
• child: Apsyrtus “because he was angry at the murder of Apsyrtus.”
• siblings with Perses “finding that Aeetes had been deposed by his brother Perses”
• with Phrixus (interaction) “He received Phrixus and gave him one of his daughters, Chalciope.”
• siblings with Circe “Aeetes, son of the Sun and of Perseis, and brother of Circe and Pasiphae”
• siblings with Pasiphae “Aeetes, son of the Sun and of Perseis, and brother of Circe and Pasiphae”
• parent: Medea “she killed Perses and restored the kingdom to her father.”

Hesiod, Theogony 869-975

• parent: Perseis “bare to unwearying Helios Circe and Aeetes the king”
• parent: Helios “And Aeetes, the son of Helios who shows light to men”
• married with Idyia “Aeetes ... took to wife fair-cheeked Idyia”

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Extracted from the original text of Greek Mythology. Made with Rho MD.