Aeetes pursued the fleeing Argo; Medea delayed him with her brother's blood, the ship was purified, Hera saved her alone through the Wandering Rocks, and at Corcyra Arete wed her to Jason — but the homecoming in Iolcus ended in Medea's cauldron and Pelias boiled by his own daughters.1
Apsyrtus cut apart⚖
Apollodorus tells the horror plainly: when Aeetes pursued, Medea murdered her brother Apsyrtus aboard the Argo, cut him limb from limb, and cast the pieces into the deep so the king, gathering his child's limbs, fell behind in the chase. Zeus sent storm and demanded purification for the kin-slaying.2
The ambush on the isle⚖
Apollonius softens the tale: Apsyrtus came as a grown commander, and Medea promised to beguile him to a lonely meeting on Artemis' sacred isle. Jason lay in ambush and slew him there — Zeus was wrathful at the ruthless murder, and the Argo had to be purified by Circe before the voyage could continue.3
The Wandering Rocks
Of all ships that ever sailed the sea, Homer says, the Argo alone passed the Wandering Rocks — the clashing crags that would have dashed her to pieces had not Hera sent her safely through, for Jason was dear to the goddess. Apollonius tells how Thetis and the Nereids guided the keel between them.4
Arete's judgement
The Colchians demanded Medea back. At Corcyra, King Alcinous and Queen Arete heard both sides: if Medea was still a maiden she must return to her father, if a wife she belonged to Jason. Arete married them that very night before dawn, and the Colchians could not take her.5
Pelias in the cauldron
In Iolcus Jason could not seize the throne while Aeson lived and Pelias still ruled. Medea showed the king's daughters her art: she cut up an old ram, cast the pieces into a cauldron with her charms, and drew forth a lamb. Trusting the promise of renewed youth, the daughters minced and boiled their father Pelias — and Jason had his vengeance at the price of a witch's fraud.6
Peleus and the Iolcan betrayal
At the games celebrated in honor of Pelias, Peleus contended in wrestling with Atalanta. Astydamia, wife of Acastus, fell in love with the guest and, rebuffed, sent word to his wife Antigone that Peleus meant to wed Sterope, daughter of Acastus — on which Antigone hanged herself — and falsely accused Peleus to her husband. Acastus, unwilling to kill the man he had purified, took him hunting on Pelion and deserted him swordless for the centaurs; Chiron restored the blade. Peleus repaid the treachery: with Jason and the Dioscuri he laid Iolcus waste, slaughtered Astydamia, and cut her limb from limb to lead his army through her into the city.7
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