by Tim Harry

Created on: June 29, 2009

Most people are primarily aware of the story of Jason and the Argonauts from the 1963 Colombia and Ray Harryhausen film of that year. As such the name of Aeetes can easily be overlooked, and yet he is a central figure in the story, being the king of Colchis and the owner of the Golden Fleece.

The story of Aeetes is a dark one, but then again the whole story of Jason and the Argonauts is, but was made much more family friendly for the film. Aeetes was the son of Helios, the sun god, and the Oceanid, Perseis. He was also brother to Pasiphae, Aloeus and Circe, some sources also quote that king Perses was also a brother. Helios gave to his sons areas to rule over, Aeetes was thus given Cornith, although he left it behind to travel to Colchis at the far end of the Black Sea. In Colchis he set about building a new kingdom from scratch.

It was to the new kingdom the Phrixus fled, along with his twin Helle, when their lives were threatened. Although Helle died, Phrixus rode a golden ram to the court of Aeetes. Aeetes welcomed the stranger in, and honoured him by giving his daughter Chalciope, Phrixus in gratitude gave the Golden Fleece of the ram to his new father in law. It was though at this point that a change came over King Aeetes, and a prophecy about his own downfall if the Golden Fleece was ever to be taken from Colchis by strangers was the cause. A new Aeetes emerged one that was cruel to all strangers, having them put to death, and the Golden Fleece was placed in the guarded grove of Ares. Colchis as a country soon gained a reputation of one to avoid, and it seemed that Aeetes was to be safe as no strangers would dare to try and take the Fleece from his control.

Eventually though Jason and the Argo with its crew arrived at the city of Aea and the court of Aeetes. The strength of the Argonauts delayed any thoughts of killing the strangers who had arrived in his court, and as Jason was very flattering to King Aeetes, the king listened to the request of Jason to be given the Golden Fleece. Aeetes of course was not seriously considering giving up the Fleece but thought that it might delay and divide the Argonauts so that they could be defeated.

It was whilst in the court of Aeetes, that Jason first came into contact with Medea, Aeetes' other daughter. Aeetes had intended to marry off Medea to King Styrus of Albania, but it was only as an added precaution as he did not doubt his daughter's loyalty. He was indeed more worried about the fact

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