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 that his own grandson, Argus, son of Chalciope, was amongst the Argonauts.
Aeetes came up with a number of tasks for Jason to complete in order that he should earn the right to be given the Golden Fleece. These tasks included the ploughing of a field with a pair of fire breathing bulls, and the subsequent sowing of dragon's teeth. Medea agreed to help Jason without her father knowing, having fallen in love with the hero. Medea made use of her mystical knowledge in order that Jason should know of what would lie ahead, and also gave him the use of the charm of Prometheus to aid him. Thus it was this help that Jason successfully completed the tasks and also managed to gain the Golden Fleece.
With the prize secured Jason then took Medea and the remaining Argonauts and set sail in the Argo.
With the Argo departing the shores of Colchis, Aeetes gave orders for his son, Apsyrtus to pursue them at the head of the Colchian fleet, to retrieve both the Golden Fleece and also his daughter. Medea and Jason though realised that they could not escape the fleet so tricked Apsyrtus into joining them onboard the Argo. Then as Aeetes joined up with the Cochian fleet, Apsyrtus was murdered and his body parts were thrown into the sea. Aeetes slowed down the fleet so that he could retrieve the body parts of his son, and thus it was that the Argo escaped.
The loss of the Golden Fleece also meant the loss of his kingdom for Aeetes, and he was deposed by his brother, Perses. In some sources though the story of Aeetes does continue and many years later he regains his throne with the help of the returning Medea. Medea having been abandoned by Jason, and at the same time having lost her right to live in either Corinth or Athens. Aeetes is believed to have then died a natural death by which Medea's son, Medus, inherited his grandfather's throne.
The story of Aeetes is no different to the stories of many other kings from the stories of ancient Greece, and yet it does indicate just how much of the stories of Greek mythology have been censored to be more acceptable to modern society.