V  A  R  I  O  U  S    T  R  A  D  I  T  I  O  N  S  
A  B  O  U  T    A  P  S  Y  R  T  U  S

 


 

 

APSYRTUS

 


 


 

source (Apollodorus)

translation (Perseus)


 

 


 
 
 

 

 

APSYRTUS
 


PHERECYDES (6TH CENTURY BCE)

  • Absyrtus, who was a baby, was taken aboard the Argo by Medea, on the advice of Jason, and then killed and dismembered. His fragments were scattered upon the sea so that their collection might delay the pursuit of Aeetes.

SOPHOCLES (5TH CENTURY BCE)

  • Sophocles in the Colchians says that the child of Aeetes was slaughtered in the palace.

EURIPIDES (5TH CENTURY BCE)

  • Euripides (Medea, line 1334) says that Medea slew her brother at the hearth of the palace.

APOLLONIUS OF RHODES

  • Apsyrtus, left behind by Jason and Medea, pursued them with a band of Colchians, and, overtaking them, was treacherously slain by Jason, with the connivance of Medea, in an island of the Danube.

APOLLODORUS

  • "When Aeetes discovered the daring deeds done by Medea, he started off in pursuit of the ship; but when she saw him near, Medea murdered her brother and cutting him limb from limb threw the pieces into the deep. Gathering the child's limbs, Aeetes fell behind in the pursuit; wherefore he turned back, and, having buried the rescued limbs of his child, he called the place Tomi."