Medea by Seneca the Younger. Short summary

5 seconds

Medea, queen of Colchis and wife of Jason, learns that her husband has decided to marry the daughter of the Corinthian king. In anger, she sends gifts that burn the palace and kills her and Jason’s children.

1 minute

An excerpt from the story of the Argonauts.

Jason and his wife, Medea, and their two young sons are in exile in Corinth. Jason has decided to marry the daughter of the local King Creonte. On learning of this, Medea becomes indignant.

She recalls how many crimes she has committed for Jason’s sake: she helped steal the golden fleece, she killed King Pelias and even her own brother Apsyrtes. The Nurse begs her to resign.

Creonte tells Medea that she must leave Corinth, but gives her twenty-four hours to pack. Jason says that her marriage to the Princess of Corinth is forced, but Medea does not believe him. Jason says that his sons will stay with him. Seeing her father’s love for the children, Medea plots a plan of revenge.

Being a sorceress, she impregnated the cloak and tiara with a magic potion that makes everything burn and never go out. She sent the «gifts» to Jason’s bride and father-in-law. They burned the king’s palace. Medea killed the eldest son and told Jason about it, then killed the youngest before his eyes. And she rode away in a chariot pulled by dragons.