# Medea — Bulfinch’s Mythology character guide

> Medea in Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0050-xvii-the-golden-fleece-medea

## Snapshot

A sorceress of Colchis whose love for Jason arms him with the spells that win the Golden Fleece, and whose betrayal turns that love to ruin.

## Who they are

Medea is daughter of the king who guards the Fleece, and her knowledge of herbs and incantations makes her the most dangerous ally Jason could gain. She betrays her father and her brother to help him, then uses her arts to trick Pelias's daughters into killing their own father. When Jason casts her aside for a younger princess, her grief hardens into a revenge so total it stains the whole Argonaut cycle.

## In the story

### [The Golden Fleece—Medea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xvii-the-golden-fleece-medea)

Daughter of King Aeëtes and a potent sorceress; aids Jason with charms and potions; later flees with him.

### [The Golden Fleece](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/the-golden-fleece)

Daughter of King Aeëtes and a sorceress who helps Jason complete his tasks in exchange for marriage.

### [Medea and Aeson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/medea-and-aeson)

Medea performs a complex ritual to rejuvenate Aeson, later tricks Pelias's daughters into killing him, and ultimately takes revenge on Jason by murdering his bride and her own children.

### [Theseus—Daedalus—Castor and Pollux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xx-theseus-daedalus-castor-and-pollux)

Sorceress who marries Aegeus and tries to poison Theseus, then flees to Asia.

### [Theseus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/theseus)

Sorceress and wife of Aegeus; attempts to poison Theseus but flees when discovered.

### [Antigone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/antigone)

Sister of Adrastus and wife of Amphiaraus, she is bribed with the collar of Harmonia to decide in favor of the war against Thebes.

### [M](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/m)

Listed as 'Medea, princess and sorceress who aided Jason.'

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/characters/medea
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/characters