Medea's Story

This tale of Medea is based on the myth as translated by Robert Graves. If you are interested in reading the more traditional version of Medea please look to the Greek tragedy writerEuripides.

Since the beginning of time, men have existed, who with just the mere whisper of their names could conjure up images of evil and cruelty in the minds of those that hear them. But in this place men do not stand alone, for there are women too who who bear this brand upon themselves. This I know, for I am one such woman. I am Medea, Princess of Colchis. It is not for being the daughter of King Aeetes or the wife of Jason that causes my name to be known throughout the world. I have never been given the chance to be rewarded for my bravery or courage or respected for my intellect.

Instead I am more readily described by words such as Witch or Sorceress, and phrases such as Vengeful Woman and Child Killer. I have been persecuted, disgraced and exiled, not only by my own people but also by those from afar. I am hated throughout the world not solely for my actions alone, but more so because I am a woman accused of doing the unspeakable.

I Am Medea, And This Is My Story.

I was born the daughter of King Aeetes in the mystical land of Colchis. To you Greeks we live at the far end of the world, in a place veiled in whispers and secrets. There, I held the position of High Priestess to the goddess Hecate and I was quite well versed in all aspects of the magical arts.

It had come to pass that in my father's possession was placed a fleece of gold, which was hung in a grove sacred to the god Ares and guarded by a powerful dragon who never slept. It was promised that Colchis would have good fortune as long as the fleece remained within her boundries.

How was I to know that this hide of a ram would bring me so much sorrow and pain, and that I, Medea, because of my wit and cunning would be used as a pawn in the affairs of the gods?

My story begins with the goddess Hera, who had become deeply offended when Pelias, King of Iolcus, refused to offer up sacrifices in her temple. Pelias, who was not a man of good standing, was known for both his desire for power and the violece he so often waged upon those who deprived him of it. Pelias seized the throne of Iolchus from his brother Aeson, and because it was told to him by an oracle that he would lose his life to a decendent of Aeolus, proceeded to execute any Aeolian males he could find. Pelias spared Aeson only for the sake of their mother, but chose to keep him a prisoner within the palace.

Aeson married and had a son, but because he greatly feared for the boy's safety, he arranged for the infant to be smuggled out of the palace under the pretense of being stillborn. The child was then placed in the care of Chiron, the king of the centaurs.

This son would grow up to be Jason, the man chosen by Hera to bring about the fall of her enemy Pelias. But the angry goddess had one other person in mind to help make her plan complete. Though Jason possessed both strength and character she knew her scheme also required a woman's touch. She desired a woman who was both clever of mind and skilled in the art of witchery, one that was determined, calculating and sometimes cold. That woman was me.

When Jason reached the age of twenty one, he journeyed to Iolcus in hopes of reclaiming the throne from his uncle. Once again Pelias was warned by an oracle to beware of a stranger wearing only one sandal. In order to make this prophecy come true, Hera posed as an old woman near the Anaurus River and pleaded with all that passed by to aid her in her trip across.

No one was willing to assist her, that is until Jason appeared at the river's edge. He slung the old woman over his shoulder and carried her through the water, but not before the waves claimed one of his shoes. Jason finally arrived in Iolcus during the Festival of Poseidon. As he made his way through the crowded streets, he came upon Pelias who at once noticed that the young man standing before him was wearing only one sandal.

Jason told Pelias his name and stated that he had come to reclaim the throne of Iolcus. Knowing that he could not slay the stranger for fear of angering Zeus, the quick thinking king asked Jason what he would do if an oracle prophesied that a particular man was going to kill him. Without hesitation Jason replied "I would send the man to bring back the Golden Fleece from Colchis." From that moment forward our lives belonged to destiny alone.

Hera quietly sought out the help of Aphrodite , while Jason assembled for himself a crew made up of the best men in Greece. Together they boarded a ship called the Argo and set sail for my homeland of Colchis. As they landed on the shore, Aphrodite instructed her son Eros to seek out the Priestess of Hecate.

Unaware, I stood gazing from the temple, and in the midst of my daydream I caught my first glimpse of Jason. In an instant Eros took careful aim with his bow and pierced my breast with his golden arrow of love.

In the twinkling of an eye I became a woman without thought or reason. My heart ached, and with a peculiar combination of both passion and sadness I knew I would do anything to have him. I could not fight the power of Aphrodite any more than he could fight the will of Hera, and like two pawns we both became hopelessly trapped in a game of divine vengeance and desire.

Jason was given an audience with my father, where he informed him that he had come to take the fleece back to Iolcus. Though my father never had any intentions of giving up the magical hide, he promised Jason it would be his if he could successfully complete a simple task. Jason was told he must first rope the two fire breathing bulls of Hephaestus, and with them plow the field of Ares. To complete the challenge, he was then to sow the soil with the teeth of the serpent slain by Cadmus. Knowing this would be an impossible undertaking for Jason to accomplish on his own, I defied my father and agreed to help him.

But nothing comes without a price. I first made him promise that in exchange for my help he would take me back to Greece and make me his wife. I did because I loved him with all my heart, and he agreed because he very much desired the fleece.

I made a magical lotion which he rubbed upon his body to protect him from the firey breath of the bulls. He hitched them to a plow and planted the serpent's teeth, and just as in the days of Cadmus, from the earth sprung forth an army of men. Jason then threw a stone among them causing the soldiers to fight against each other, until only a few were left standing.

The power of my magic allowed Jason to be successful in his venture, but my father did not remain true to his word. In a fit of rage he threatened to burn the Argo and have all of her crew put to death.

Following my intense feelings of love, I led Jason to the Grove of Ares where the fleece lay hanging above the watchful eyes of the serpent. Using some magical charms, I lulled the dragon to sleep while Jason carefully removed the pelt from the branches of the great oak tree. As we hurried back to the Argo, my heart pounded violently with excitement. I knew my betrayal would make my father crazed with anger, but I did not care. For I would gladly face the wrath of the entire world just to be with the man I loved. As we boarded the Argo I decided to bring along my younger brother Apsyrtus as a passenger.

With the ships of Colchis quickly closing in on us, I knew I needed to do something to stop my father, lest Jason and I would surely be killed. As I stared into the black water that surrounded the ship, the solution suddenly came to me.

I brought my brother to the edge of the deck and placed a kiss upon his forehead. The crew watched in terror as I took out a sword and swiftly cut him into pieces, tossing them one by one over the side of the Argo and into the water below. In order to give my brother a proper burial, I knew my father would have to stop and retrieve the pieces from he waves.

Leaving my father to wallow in his grief, we made our way home towards Greece. Hera had chosen her servant well, for as long as the flame of Aphrodite's passion burned inside my heart there would be no limitations on how far I would go to help Jason. As we sailed on, the Argo stopped off at the Isle of Aeaea.

Here, by the direction of Zeus, my aunt Circe purified us of the crimes that were committed against my brother. She was ashamed of what I did and found it hard to look upon me, and it was made absolutely clear that we were not welcome to stay after the purification rites were completed.

Jason and I were then quickly married in a cave on the Island of Drepane, and after celebrating in a grand way, we slept under the cover of the golden fleece. Jason rested peacefully, happy and proud of his conquest, and as I lie there awake beside him, I too felt like a warrior carrying my prize home to triumph.

We met other perils on our journey back to Iolcus. On the Island of Crete we encountered Talos, a giant made of bronze. Some say that he was the last remaining man from the Bronze Race and was ordered by Zeus to stand guard over Europa. He would march around the island three times a day throwing huge rocks at any ships that happened to pass by.

A single vein filled with a godly essence kept the giant alive, but I knew of a weak spot. There in his ankle was a bronze pin which sealed his vein closed and kept his life force flowing inside of him. With the use of my magic and a promise of immortality I was able to convince Talos to let me remove the pin. The life fluid rapidly drained from his body and he was no more. We continued safely on with our journey, until finally reaching Iolcus.

Upon reaching the shore, Jason learned that Pelias had murdered both his father and mother. Filled with rage, he wanted to take the city by force but I had a better idea. I told my husband to conceal the ship and wait until he received my signal. When Pelias was dead, I would wave a torch from the palace window and then the city would be his. I transformed myself into an old woman and along with my handmaidens and a statue of Artemis proceeded to approach the city gates. I ordered the guards to let us pass, telling them that the goddess Artemis was preparing to bestow good fortune on Iolcus.

Being fearful of insulting the messengers of Artemis, the guards moved aside and with a great noise we entered onto the darkened streets. I made my way through the palace until I found myself in the room where Pelias was sleeping.

Confused and somewhat afraid, the old man asked what Artemis could possibly want with him. In the feeble voice of an old crone I told him that he was to be rewarded for his piety.

For a moment Pelias looked relieved but then I tore away my disguise and then right before his eyes turned young again. I took an old ram and cut him into thirteen pieces, before placing him in a caldron to boil. After uttering some magical words I reached into the pot and pulled out a young, healthy lamb. Convinced of my power and eager to regain his youth, Pelias was more than willing to cooperate. I bade him to lie down and with some magic words charmed him to sleep. I then instructed his daughters to chop their father into pieces, and as I had done to the ram place them one by one into the caldron.

Believing they were helping their father, the girls did as they were told. When finished they stood back and anxiously waited for Pelias to emerge from the pot as a young man. But this was not to be. Pelias was dead. I went to the window and waved my beacon as a signal and without an ounce of resistance Jason took the city for his own.

Hera's wishes had been fulfilled; Pelias had suffered a horrible death at my hands and the city of Iolcus was once again restored to the House of Aeolus. But Jason chose not to stay in the homeland of his father. Instead he resigned the throne to Acastus, the son of Pelias, and we headed to Corinth, where long ago my father Aeetes had been king.

The reigning King Creon was proud to welcome Jason, for his victories with the Argonauts had become very well known and respected throughout the ancient world. We lived happily in Corinth for ten years, and in that time I bore Jason two sons who we both loved very much. Though the Corinthian people honored Jason, they did not offer me the same degree of welcome. They feared me and my powers, and refused to acknowledge my position as Jason's wife. To them I was nothing more than a barbarian sorceress.

In hopes of ridding the city of me, King Creon proposed to Jason that he marry his daughter Glauce. I will never know the true reasons why my husband decided to accept the offer, but for years I would tell myself it was just a political decision made for the good of Greece. I hid myself from the truth, for I could not bear to think that he no longer loved me. Was not my magic responsible for all his victories? And what of the promise that was made to me so long ago? Was divorce and banishment to be my reward for being a loving and faithful wife? Was I to be cast aside, disgraced and alone?

Jason's answer was cold. He told me that I had already received my just payment, for without him I would never have been given the chance to live and experience all the glories that were Greece.

His words stung deeply and my heart ached with sorrow, but my saddness was soon replaced with a burning desire for vengeance. It was fire I felt, and so fire it would be. I pretended to heed his wishes, but all the while I knew that I would never let him go.

I fashioned a magic robe, and when it was completed I called for my sons to deliver the garment to Glauce as a wedding gift. The gown was deceivingly beautiful, for as soon as the princess placed it upon her body it burst into raging flames. Creon and the other guests tried to help, but they too were immediately consumed by the fire. It was done and I had received my revenge.

The people of Corinth cried for my blood. They stormed my house looking for me but I had escaped in a dragon drawn chariot that belonged to my grandfather Helios. Terrified, my sons ran and took refuge in the temple of Hera but the city had gone mad with rage. The townspeople entered the temple and stoned my sons to death under the sharp eyes of the goddess. Their hatred for me was so great they did not think about the innocent blood being spilled on the temple floor. To hide this great crime they told a false story of how it was I that took the lives of my sons before fleeing the city. I had lost everything, and all for a man who did not love me. I was a traitor to my country and to my father.

Through my own jealous plot of revenge I had brought about the death of my children, a death that would remain on my hands throughout the rest of eternity. The gods had turned their backs on me and I surely was alone.

In exile I fled to Athens and sought out the sanctuary of old King Aegeus. He too was heartbroken, for he wanted nothing more than a child of his own. In exchange for his protection I promised to give him the son he wished for. We were married at once, and before long I gave birth to a boy which we called Medus. What Aegeus did not know was that he was already a father, for Aertha the daughter of King Pittheus of Troezen had previously bore him a son whose name was Theseus.

For years the identity of the boy's true father was shrouded in mystery, the popular story being that Theseus was actually the son of Poseidon. As time passed I continued to live in Athens where I enjoyed life in the palace. As my son grew, so too did the boy Theseus. When the child was old enough, his mother Aertha decided to tell him the truth about his parentage.

She took him to a secret spot in the woods where there sat a large rock. Aertha told him that if he could move the stone it would be a sign that he was ready to learn the truth about his father.

Theseus tried with all his might and the stone was finally lifed. Underneath he found a sword and some other possessions that Aegeus had left for him so many years before. Theseus gathered up these things and went on his way to Athens to seek his father and make his rightful claim to the throne.

When Theseus arrived in Athens, Aegeus greeted him with a visitor's welcome. His tired old eyes failed to see the stranger for who he was, but I was not so easily fooled. I knew he was the one man who would prevent my son Medus from ever sitting on the throne of Athens. It is true I planted suspicious thoughts into the mind of my husband, causing him to fear and distrust the mysterious traveler.

As the young man was seated before a huge banquet, I prepared a drink filled with deadly poison and handed the cup to my husband. The king offered the goblet to his unsuspecting guest, but as Theseus reached forward to take it from his hands, Aegeus recognized the sword he carried to be his own.

He knew at once this stranger could be no one other than his forgotten son. Once again I was a woman hated by many. I knew I had to leave Athens, not only for my own safety but for the protection of my only living child. Fearing for our lives, I took Medus and returned to my homeland of Colchis.

There I found my uncle Perses, who after stealing the throne from my father, was ruling comfortably as king. I armed Medus with a sword and ordered him to slay Perses and take his position as the lawful ruler of Colchis. This he did, and then with tremendous determination went on to conquer the land of Media.

As for my husband Jason, I have heard sad tales of his homeless wanderings from city to city. No longer the heroic adventurer once so favored by the gods, he now lives his life as a destitute man haunted by his own personal failures. Everyday he must exist with the knowledge that his own decisions based on greed and pride were to blame for bringing about the death of his beloved children. But there is no happy ending for me either. Alas, I am no different than my husband, for I too shall be forever haunted by my past. My heart will forever be tied to a man I can not have and my hands forever stained with the blood of a murder that I did not commit.

Medea's Lair Of Greek Mythology © 1999-2009.