Medea

Also known as: Aeaean Medea · Family: Colchians · Role: daughter of Aeetes · First appears: Book III 1

Medea, also known as Aeaean Medea, is a Colchian and the daughter of Aeetes. In Book III, Cypris sends Eros to kindle her love for Jason, while Hecate has taught her to use magical herbs. After choosing Jason over her parents in a dream, she promises Chalciope help for her sons and secretly gives Jason the charms and counsel needed to survive Aeetes’ contests: “Take heed now, that I may devise help for thee.” Their meeting becomes mutual love, and Jason promises her lifelong marriage.

In Book IV, Medea flees her home with the sons of Phrixus, leaving a lock of hair as a memorial for Chalciope, and reaches Jason, Argus son of Phrixus, and Phrontis for protection: “Save me, the hapless one, my friends, from Aeetes, and yourselves too, for all is brought to light.” She helps Jason seize the fleece by charming its guardian serpent, and he vows to make her his wedded wife in Hellas. When Apsyrtus pursues them, she and Jason agree to lure and kill him; afterward Circe cleanses them but refuses further aid, sending Medea away with Jason.

At Drepane, Alcinous rules that Medea must return to Aeetes unless she is married, so she and Jason wed that night in the sacred cave: “And in our bridal chamber shalt thou prepare our couch; and nothing shall come between our love till the doom of death fold us round.” Arete gives her twelve handmaids, and Medea builds altars that continue to receive yearly sacrifices. At Crete, she defeats Talos by bewitching him, and he falls after the ichor gushes from his ankle.