Book XXXVIII: The Story of Medea

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Medea is the daughter of King Aeetes of Colchis. She is a sorceress who marries the hero Jason. Medea is an enchantress, and is sometimes seen as a priestess of the goddess Hecate.

Medea saw Jason after he arrived from Iolcus to Colchis. Looking to claim his inheritance, Medea and Jason fell in love and Medea promised to help Jason out. Medea made Jason agree to the terms that if he succeeded, Medea would come with him and they would get married. Jason went through many tough and dangerous tests, but Medea helped him with her narcotic herbs. Jason sailed away with Medea.

There are rumors that Medea only helped Jason because Hera convinced Eros to cause the two of them to fall in love. Medea's brother Absyrtus was killed while she was trying to flee with Jason. Some accounts have Medea brutally killing her brother, while others have Jason as the person responsible for the death of Absyrtus.

Medea caused the death of Talos, either by drugging him or hypnotizing him. Medea also predicted that Euphemus would rule Libya. When Jason's father Aeson was sick, Medea took the blood from his body and added herbs to his veins, which revitalized Aeson. Medea convinced King Pelias's daughters to kill him. After this, Jason and Medea went to Corinth, where they got married and had children.

While in Corinth, Jason left Medea to be with Glauce, who was the King's daughter. Medea got her revenge by killing Glauce and The King Creon. Medea then murdered two of her own children to continue her revenge on Jason. Soon after, Medea left Corinth and went to Athens. Some Greek writers have stated that Medea may have killed her children by accident, with some even saying the death of the children can be blamed on the citizens of Corinth.
Medea went to Thebes, healing Hercales from his curse. Heracles gave Medea shelter in Thebes until the citizens got upset and drove her out of town. Next, Medea went to Athens, where she married Aegeus. Medea and Aegeus started a family. However, trouble arose when Aegeus's son Theseus arrived. Medea wanted Theseus killed, but Aegeus would not allow that to happen.

Medea then traveled again. Some accounts have her traveling back to Colchis, while other have Medea going to the Iranian Plateau and living with the Aryans.

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