The Tragic Tale of Absyrtus: Betrayal, Pursuit, and Divine Retribution in Greek Mythology
The story of Absyrtus, as presented in Greek mythology, intertwines themes of loyalty, betrayal, and revenge against the grand backdrop of the Argonauts' legendary quest. Absyrtus was the son of King Aeëtes of Colchis, an ancient region near the Black Sea. The Argonauts, led by Jason, ventured to Colchis to seize the Golden Fleece, a powerful and treasured relic protected by Aeëtes. The myth of Absyrtus reflects the dangers faced by the Argonauts and the moral complexities surrounding Jason’s ambition and Medea’s love and loyalty.
The building of the ship Argo: Athena (on the left) adjusts the sail; Tiphys (centre) holds the yard; Argos (on the right) sits across the stern. Terracotta relief, Roman artwork, probably 1st century CE. Said to have been found near the Porta Latina in Rome.
Jason and the Argonauts' journey from Greece to Colchis is one of the most famous tales of Greek mythology. The Argonauts, around fifty heroes including figures like Hercules, Orpheus, and Atalanta, traveled on the ship Argo to recover the Golden Fleece, which they believed was unjustly held by Aeëtes. Aeëtes, the king of Colchis and son of the Sun God Helios, was entrusted with the Golden Fleece, a symbol of power and protection. However, Jason, determined to reclaim it, sought to prove his worth and fulfill his mission, sparking a chain of dramatic events.
Pelias, king of Iolcos, stops on the steps of a temple as he recognises young Jason (on right) by his missing sandal - Fresco from Pompeii, Naples, Italy. House of Jason, Pompeii (IX, 5, 18-21), 1st century CE
Medea, the daughter of Aeëtes, was a powerful sorceress and priestess of Hecate. Captivated by Jason, she defied her father and helped the Argonauts steal the Golden Fleece. To aid their escape, Medea took along her younger brother, Absyrtus. Here, the myth splits into different versions. In one tale, Medea kills Absyrtus, scattering his remains in the sea to delay her father's pursuit. Shocked and grieving, Aeëtes stops to gather Absyrtus's remains, allowing the Argonauts to flee unimpeded.
In another version, Absyrtus is not a child but a young warrior sent by Aeëtes to stop Jason. Here, Medea deceives Absyrtus by pretending she has been taken against her will. Luring him to a secluded spot, Medea allows Jason to ambush and kill Absyrtus, securing their escape. This act of betrayal underscores Medea's willingness to forsake her family for Jason, but it also highlights the brutality with which she defends her love.
'The Golden Fleece' by Herbert James Draper (1864-1920), 1904. Oil on canvas, 155 x 272.5 cm. Courtesy of Bradford Museums, Galleries & Heritage (Cartwright Hall). According to Simon Toll, 'the image of the powerful femme fatale makes her most dramatic appearance in Draper's ambitious, large canvas The Golden Fleece' (119), which is 'certainly the most histrionic' (120) of his paintings. As a passage attached to the painting when it was exhibited at the Royal Academy explains, Medea throws her brother into the sea to drown so that her father will slacken his pursuit longer enough for her to escape with the golden fleece.
The murder of Absyrtus is a turning point, bringing about divine wrath. Zeus, disgusted by the atrocity, sends violent storms that blow the Argonauts off course. As the storm rages, the Argo itself, a vessel blessed by the gods, speaks to Jason and his crew, advising them to seek purification. They are directed to Circe, a powerful sorceress and relative of Medea, living on the island of Aeaea.
Jason and the Argonauts navigate treacherous routes, including the Danube and its tributaries, to reach Circe. Along the way, they battle fierce dog-headed creatures and evade enemy ships. Once they reach Circe’s island, she performs a ritual to cleanse them of Absyrtus's blood, freeing them from divine condemnation. This episode highlights the ancient Greek belief in purification and the concept of miasma, or spiritual pollution, caused by acts of violence and betrayal.
Absyrtus's role in the myth varies between accounts. In Seneca's tragedy Medea, he is a young boy clinging to his sister, unaware of her plans to betray him. Here, Medea's ruthlessness shocks the audience, reinforcing her character as a figure who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals. In contrast, in Apollonius Rhodius's epic *Argonautica*, Absyrtus is portrayed as a brave young man, loyal to his father and Colchis, whose tragic death is part of the epic’s complex moral landscape.
The ancient Greek playwright Euripides offers yet another version, where Absyrtus is a formidable adversary, challenging Jason in a battle of wits and strategy. This version gives Absyrtus a more active role, portraying him as a tragic hero who becomes a casualty of Medea and Jason's relentless pursuit of their desires. In some interpretations, Absyrtus’s death symbolizes the ultimate betrayal of family ties, highlighting the tragic cost of Medea’s allegiance to Jason.
'The ship Argo with crew' by Lorenzo Costa (1460-1535)
With their guilt absolved, the Argonauts resume their journey home, but the path is fraught with challenges. Different accounts provide various versions of the return route, emphasizing the mythic imagination surrounding their voyage. Some suggest they traveled through the Adriatic Sea, while others propose they retraced their original path through the Bosphorus and the Hellespont, aided by Hercules, who had recently defeated the Trojan forces. These fantastical routes reveal the fascination of ancient storytellers with the vast and unknown world beyond Greece’s borders, depicting a journey rich with adventure and peril.
According to an ancient legend, from the body of Apsirtus were born the islands of Apsirtus - Apsyrtides. That is the way in which, islands Cres and Lošinj and the archipelago around them were formed.
The myth of Absyrtus underscores key themes in Greek mythology, particularly the conflict between family loyalty and personal ambition. Medea’s betrayal of her own brother represents an extreme sacrifice for love, but it also casts her in a morally ambiguous light. The story of Absyrtus further explores the concept of retributive justice, with Zeus punishing the Argonauts for the violation of kinship bonds.
The journey to Circe for purification reflects the ancient Greek understanding of morality and divine law. In the Greek worldview, bloodshed, especially within families, caused spiritual pollution that required cleansing. Circe’s ritual purification allowed the Argonauts to continue their journey, absolved of guilt, but their encounter with Circe also serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of unbridled ambition and disregard for moral boundaries.
The tragic tale of Absyrtus has fascinated both ancient and modern audiences, with its complex portrayal of heroism, loyalty, and moral compromise. The Argonautica by Apollonius Rhodius is one of the most detailed surviving accounts, capturing the epic scale and intricate character dynamics of the myth. Other works, such as Euripides’s Medea and Seneca’s Medea, adapt the story to explore different facets of Medea’s character and her relationship with Jason.
In some interpretations, the city of Tomi is said to derive its name from the Greek word "tomi," meaning “cut,” symbolizing the act of dismemberment performed by Medea. This etymology links the myth to a specific place, grounding its themes of violence and retribution in the geography of the ancient world.
Last update: November 2, 2024
DONATE Go to definitions: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
