ABSYRTUS (mythical brother of Medea)
Figure of myth · mythical brother of Medea
- Parents
- Aeëtes, Neaera, Asterodeia
- Siblings
- Medea
- In the sources
- 19 ancient passages
Absyrtus, son of Aeetes and the Caucasian nymph Asterodeia, stood as the radiant brother of Medea and Circe.1,2,3,4 The Colchian youths called him Phaethon because he outshone all other young men.2 He was born to a Caucasian nymph before his father’s marriage, a fact that defined his place in the royal lineage.2 Aeetes harbored no fear that his son would form a hateful scheme against him.1 In his personal life, he wed Eidyia, the youngest daughter of Tethys and Oceanus.2 He resided in a specific building within the palace complex.2
He served as her champion and brother in this perilous journey.5 The local inhabitants were eager to assist him during this time.5 The Colchians avoided the Brygean isles of Artemis out of reverence for Zeus's daughter.6 Absyrtus guided the Colchians through the Fair mouth, cutting off their escape routes into the Cronian sea.6 He left his host on islands near the river Salangon and the Nestian land.6 He crossed a land neck to reach the furthest gulf of the Ionian sea, outstripping the heroes in his pursuit.6
Medea and Jason prepared a deceptive trap for him using gifts.7 He was given a sacred crimson robe as a guest gift.7 Medea planned to trick him into coming alone to hear her words.8 She persuaded him to come to her temple at night.7 Medea used witching charms to lure him from a distance.7 Accounts differ on the exact manner of his death, with one stating Jason killed him with a sword as he approached the temple of Artemis.8,9 Other traditions hold that Medea killed him when he arrived to meet her, or while he was chasing her, cutting his body into pieces to stop her father's pursuit.10,11,12 Medea was driven to kill him by a curse of madness.10 He crossed the sea at night to meet his sister on the island.9
The crew must purge the guilt of the murder to end their woes.13 The ship advised the crew to seek purification from Circe, who perceived that Medea was hiding the truth about the death.12,14 Medea avoided discussing the killing when speaking with Circe.14 The local people stopped opposing Medea once he was no longer present, as they had intended to lead her back to her father on his account.5
Aeetes buried the recovered limbs of Absyrtus at a place he named Tomi.12 His bones remain buried in the ground among the Apsyrtians.9 His memory persists in the islands known as the Absyrtides, where the killing is said to have occurred.4,11,12 A group of Colchians settled on islands and took a name derived from him.15 The region formerly called Aegialus is said to have taken its name from him.16
The codex facts behind this entry
In the myths
Jason killed Apsyrtus with a sword while he was approaching the temple of Artemis, an act Medea had suggested to start a conflict with the Colchians. Argonautica 4 ¶29 +1
