Apsyrtus

Also known as: Phaethon · Family: Colchians · Role: son of Aeetes · First appears: Book III 2

Apsyrtus, also known as Phaethon, was born to Asterodeia and Aeetes before Aeetes married Eidyia: “Apsyrtus, son of Aeetes, whom a Caucasian nymph, Asterodeia, bare before he made Eidyia his wedded wife”. In Book III, he served Aeetes by holding the king’s chariot while Aeetes went to witness the contest.

In Book IV, Apsyrtus led the Colchians in pursuit of the heroes and helped cut off their escape. After the parties agreed that Medea should be given into the keeping of a judge, Medea and Jason devised a plot against him. Jason ambushed and killed Apsyrtus beside the temple of Artemis: “And Jason marked him and struck him down, as a butcher strikes down a mighty strong-horned bull”.

After Apsyrtus fell, Zeus ordained that the Argonauts be cleansed for his murder and suffer woes before returning. At Aeaea, Circe performed the cleansing for Jason and Medea, and perceived that Medea had concealed her part in Apsyrtus’s death.