Editing Medus

{{Short description|Greek mythological figure}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Greek
| name = Medus
| image = 
| caption = 
| deity_of = Prince of [[Athens]]
| abode = Athens, then [[Colchis]]
| consort = 
| father = [[Aegeus]] or [[Jason]]
| mother = [[Medea]]
| siblings = [[Eriopis]], [[Theseus]]
| children = 
| successor = 
| predecessor = 
| member_of = the Athenian Royal Family
| other_names = Medeus, [[Polyxenus]]
}}

In [[Greek mythology]], '''Medus''' ({{langx|grc|Μῆδος}}) or '''Medeus'''/'''Medeius''' ({{Lang|grc|Μηδείας}} or {{Lang|grc|Μήδειος}}) was an [[Athens|Athenian]] prince as the son of King [[Aegeus]],<ref>[[Diodorus Siculus]], ''[[Bibliotheca historica]]'' 4.55.5–7 & 4.56.1'';'' [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], 1.9.28; [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Graeciae Descriptio'' 2.3.8; [[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''[[Fabulae]]'' 26, 27, 244 & 275</ref> thus a half-brother of the hero [[Theseus]].

== Family ==
Medus's mother was the [[Colchis|Colchian]] witch [[Medea]], daughter of King [[Aeëtes]]. In some accounts, he was called [[Polyxenus]] and his father was [[Jason]],<ref>[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'' 998–1001</ref> thus a brother of [[Eriopis]].<ref>Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio'' 2.3.8 with [[Hellanicus of Lesbos|Hellanicus]] as the authority & 2.3.9</ref>

== Mythology ==

=== Childhood ===
In the account for being the son of Jason, Medeus was raised by the [[centaur]] [[Chiron]] in the mountains.<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'' 1001</ref>

=== Flight from Athens ===
As the son of Aegeus, Medus and his mother were driven as fugitives from Athens after Medea plotted against [[Theseus]].<ref>Apollodorus, 1.9.28; Hyginus, ''[[Fabulae]]'' 26</ref> Following his mother, Medus was brought by a storm to the court of King [[Perses of Colchis|Perses]] of Colchis and Medus was seized by the guards and presented to the current ruler. This Perses was the son of [[Helios]] and the brother of the former king Aeëtes.<ref>Hyginus, ''[[Fabulae]]'' 244</ref> He ruled after the death of his brother but by some accounts, Aeëtes was murdered or deposed by Perses.<ref>Diodorus Siculus, ''Bibliotheca historica'' 4.56.1</ref> When Medus saw that he had come into the power of his enemy, he falsely asserted he was [[Hippotes]], son of King [[Creon (king of Corinth)|Creon]] of [[Corinth]]. Perses carefully investigated and ordered him to be cast into prison to protect his throne from any potential claimants because he feared the prophecy that he should be aware of Aeëtes' descendants (i.e. Medus). Afterwards, sterility and scarcity of crops are said to have occurred.<ref>Hyginus, ''[[Fabulae]]'' 27</ref>

=== Witch's scheme ===
When Medea came back to her native land in her chariot with the yoked dragons, she falsely impersonated a priestess of [[Artemis]] before the king. She said she could make atonement for the plague to appease the gods and she heard from the king that a supposed Hippotes was held in custody. Thinking that the alleged Corinthian prince had come to avenge the injury to his father (i.e. Creon), Medea unknowingly conspired and betrayed her son Medus. For she persuaded the king that he was not Hippotes, but Medus, sent by his father to dispatch the king, and begged that he be handed over to her to be killed as a sacrifice, convinced that he was Hippotes. So when Medus was brought out to pay for his deceit by death, Medea saw that things were otherwise than she had thought, she said she wished to talk with him which Perses agreed. Subsequently, Medea gave Medus a sword and bade him avenge the wrongs to his grandfather Aeëtes, and Medus killed Perses, and gained his grandfather's kingdom.<ref>Diodorus Siculus, ''Bibliotheca historica'' 4.56.1; Hyginus, ''[[Fabulae]]'' 27</ref> In some accounts, the king was stabbed to death by Medea herself using the sacrificial blade.<ref>Apollodorus, 1.9.28</ref> Another version of the myth states that Medea restored her father Aeëtes to the throne of Colchis after being deposed by Perses.<ref>Apollodorus, 1.9.28; Diodorus Siculus, ''Bibliotheca historica'' 4.56.1</ref>

=== Aftermath ===
When Medus came to rule, he secured the command of an army and advanced over a large part of [[Asia]] which lies above the [[Pontus (region)|Pontus]]. Conquering the barbarians that live in that neighboring land, he named [[Media (region)|Media]] in honor of either himself<ref>Diodorus Siculus, ''Bibliotheca historica'' 4.55.5–4.56.1; Apollodorus, 1.9.28; Hyginus, ''[[Fabulae]]'' 27; [[Strabo]], ''[[Geographica]]'' 11.13.10 & 15.3.6</ref> or his mother.<ref>Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio'' 2.3.8 states that the land was called [[Aryan|Aria]] and Medea named the inhabitants after her [[Medes]]</ref> Medeus was also credited to be the founder of Meda in [[Ecbatana]].<ref>Hyginus, ''[[Fabulae]]'' 275</ref> Medus met his death while marching against the [[India]]ns.<ref>Apollodorus, 1.9.28</ref>{{S-start}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Perses (brother of Aeetes)|Perses]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Colchis#Rulers|King of Colchis]]|years
}}
{{s-aft
| after = ?
}}
{{S-end}}

==See also==
* [[Madai]]
* [[Medes]]
* [[Mordred]]

== Notes ==

<references />

== References ==

* [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].
*[[Diodorus Siculus]], ''The Library of History'' translated by [[Charles Henry Oldfather]]. Twelve volumes. [[Loeb Classical Library]]. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989. Vol. 3. Books 4.59–8. [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/home.html Online version at Bill Thayer's Web Site]
*Diodorus Siculus, ''Bibliotheca Historica. Vol 1-2''. Immanel Bekker. Ludwig Dindorf. Friedrich Vogel. in aedibus B. G. Teubneri. Leipzig. 1888-1890. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0540 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Gaius Julius Hyginus]], ''Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus'' translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. [https://topostext.org/work/206 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*[[Hesiod]], ''Theogony'' from ''The Homeric Hymns and Homerica'' with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0129 Greek text available from the same website].
*[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'' with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. {{ISBN|0-674-99328-4}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library]
*Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio.'' ''3 vols''. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903.  [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0159 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Strabo]], ''The Geography of Strabo.'' Edition by H.L. Jones. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0198%3Abook%3D6%3Achapter%3D1%3Asection%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*Strabo, ''Geographica'' edited by A. Meineke. Leipzig: Teubner. 1877. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0197 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.]

{{Medea}}

[[Category:Princes in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Mythological kings of Colchis]]
[[Category:Kings in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Mythological people from Attica]]
[[Category:Asia in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Corinthian mythology]]
[[Category:Median people]]
[[Category:Children of Medea]]
[[Category:Children of Jason]]