Biagio d'Antonio, The Betrothal of Jason and Medea, 1487 · Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris · public domain
1.9.23
The Library of Greek Myth 1.9.23 · Medea's drug1.9.23Medea's drug
Book 1, chapter 9, section 23. Aeetes has promised Jason the fleece if he can yoke the bronze-footed, fire-breathing bulls alone.
· · ·
ἀποροῦντος1
aporoûntos
was at a lossbeing at a loss
δὲ2
dè
and
τοῦ3
toû
the
Ἰάσονος4
Iásonos
Jason
πῶς5
pôs
how
ἂν6
àn
could
δύναιτο7
dýnaito
he could managebe able
τοὺς9
toùs
the
ταύρους10
taúrous
bulls
καταζεῦξαι8
katazeûxai
to yoketo yoke down
, Μήδεια11
Mḗdeia
Medea
αὐτοῦ14
autoû
with himof him
ἔρωτα13
érōta
lovedesire
ἴσχει12
íschei
falls inholds
·; ἦν15
ên
was
δὲ16
dè
now
αὕτη17
haútē
she
θυγάτηρ18
thygátēr
the daughter
Αἰήτου19
Aiḗtou
of Aeetes
καὶ20
kaì
and
Εἰδυίας21
Eidyías
of Idyia
τῆς22
tês
the daughterthe one
Ὠκεανοῦ23
Ōkeanoû
of Ocean
, φαρμακίς24
pharmakís
a sorceressa woman who uses drugs
. δεδοικυῖα25
dedoikyîa
fearinghaving feared
δὲ26
dè
and
μὴ27
mḕ
that
πρὸς29
pròs
by
τῶν30
tôn
the
ταύρων31
taúrōn
bulls
διαφθαρῇ28
diaphtharêi
he would be killedbe destroyed
, κρύφα33
krýpha
behind the backsecretly
τοῦ34
toû
of her
πατρὸς35
patròs
father
συνεργήσειν36
synergḗsein
to helpto work with
αὐτῷ37
autôi
him
πρὸς38
pròs
with
τὴν39
tḕn
the
κατάζευξιν40
katázeuxin
yoking
τῶν41
tôn
of the
ταύρων42
taúrōn
bulls
ἐπηγγείλατο32
epēngeílato
she promisedoffered
καὶ43
kaì
and
τὸ45
tò
the
δέρας46
déras
fleece
ἐγχειριεῖν44
encheirieîn
to put in his handsto hand over
, ἐὰν47
eàn
if
ὀμόσῃ48
omósēi
he sworeswear
αὐτὴν50
autḕn
her
ἕξειν49
héxein
to haveto keep
γυναῖκα51
gynaîka
as his wifewoman
καὶ52
kaì
and
εἰς55
eis
to
Ἑλλάδα56
Helláda
Greece
σύμπλουν54
sýmploun
with him on the voyagesailing together
ἀγάγηται53
agágētai
take herlead
. ὀμόσαντος57
omósantos
sworehaving sworn
δὲ58
dè
and
Ἰάσονος59
Iásonos
Jason
φάρμακον61
phármakon
a drug
δίδωσιν60
dídōsin
she gives
, ᾧ67
hôi
with itwith which
καταζευγνύναι64
katazeugnýnai
yoketo yoke
μέλλοντα63
méllonta
when he was aboutabout to
τοὺς65
toùs
the
ταύρους66
taúrous
bulls
ἐκέλευσε62
ekéleuse
she told himordered
χρῖσαι68
chrîsai
to anointto smear
τήν69
tḗn
his
τε70
te
and
ἀσπίδα71
aspída
shield
καὶ72
kaì
and
τὸ73
tò
his
δόρυ74
dóry
spear
καὶ75
kaì
and
τὸ76
tò
his
σῶμα77
sôma
body
·; τούτῳ78
toútōi
with this
γὰρ79
gàr
for
χρισθέντα80
christhénta
anointedhaving been anointed
ἔφη81
éphē
she said
πρὸς82
pròs
for
μίαν83
mían
one
ἡμέραν84
hēméran
day
μήτʼ85
mḗt’
neither
ἂν86
àn
could
ὑπὸ88
hypò
by
πυρὸς89
pyròs
fire
ἀδικηθήσεσθαι87
adikēthḗsesthai
be harmedto be wronged
μήτε90
mḗte
nor
ὑπὸ91
hypò
by
σιδήρου92
sidḗrou
iron
. While Jason was at a loss how he could manage to yoke the bulls, Medea falls in love with him. She was the daughter of Aeetes and of Idyia, the daughter of Ocean, a sorceress. Fearing that he would be killed by the bulls, she promised, behind her father's back, to help him with yoking the bulls and to put the fleece in his hands, if he swore to have her as his wife and take her with him on the voyage to Greece. When Jason swore, she gives him a drug, and told him, when he was about to yoke the bulls, to anoint with it his shield, his spear and his body; for once anointed with this, she said, for one day he could be harmed neither by fire nor by iron.
While Jason was at a loss how he could manage to yoke the bulls, Medea falls in love with him. She was the daughter of Aeetes and of Idyia, the daughter of Ocean, a sorceress. Fearing that he would be killed by the bulls, she promised, behind her father's back, to help him with yoking the bulls and to put the fleece in his hands, if he swore to have her as his wife and take her with him on the voyage to Greece. When Jason swore, she gives him a drug, and told him, when he was about to yoke the bulls, to anoint with it his shield, his spear and his body; for once anointed with this, she said, for one day he could be harmed neither by fire nor by iron.
Interpretation
While Jason was at a loss how he could yoke the bulls, Medea fell in love with him. She was the daughter of Aeetes and of Idyia, the daughter of Ocean, and she was a sorceress. Afraid that the bulls would kill him, she promised, behind her father's back, to help him yoke them and to put the fleece in his hands, if he swore to make her his wife and take her with him on the voyage to Greece. When Jason swore, she gave him a drug and told him to anoint his shield, his spear and his body with it when he went to yoke the bulls; once anointed with it, she said, for one day neither fire nor iron could harm him.
Apollodorus tells the whole saga in plain, quick sentences and calls Medea a φαρμακίς, a woman who works with drugs. He keeps the detail Apollonius gives, that the drug works for one day only, and adds that Jason anoints his shield and spear as well as his body. Medea sets her price before she helps: an oath of marriage and a passage to Greece.