Women to be Feared (Greece)

Question 1

Who was Medea?

Answer 1

• Aiete’s daughter (king of Colchis)

Question 2

Why did Jason need to get the golden fleece?

Answer 2

• his uncle Pelias, king of Thessaly promised to give up his rightful throne to him if he brought back golden fleece
• throne was seized when Jason was a child, he demands it back

Question 3

Where was the golden fleece and how is it viewed in Greek eyes?

Answer 3

• at the edge of the world
• barbaric

Question 4

Why did Medea help Jason?

Answer 4

• Hera arranged Medea to fall in love with Jason
• knows that he can not succeed alone

Question 5

What was Medea’s solution to let Jason yoke fire breathing bulls and plough and sow a field with dragon’s teeth?

Answer 5

• prepared ointment for him to become impervious to fire

Question 6

What was Medea’s solution to retrieving the fleece from a tree guarded by a serpent who never slept?

Answer 6

• used combination of magic chants and drugs to lull serpent to sleep

Question 7

How did Medea help Jason escape from Colchis?

Answer 7

• kills her brother
• threw his remains into water
• Colchians picked them up to bury them in one piece

Question 8

How did Medea help Jason during the voyage home?

Answer 8

• defeated Talos (metal giant) by summoning underworld spirits

Question 9

How did Medea punish Pelias when he refused to hand the throne back to Jason?

Answer 9

• showed his daughters “magic ritual” that can reverse aging process
• chopped up old ram and boiled it
• produces a lamb
• Pelias’ daughters killed him to do same trick

Question 10

What did Medea do after Jason left her for Glauce?

Answer 10

• sends poisoned dress to Glauce, princess of Corinth (Jason’s new lover)
• Kills her and Jason’s children