THESSALUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Thessalus was a King of Iolcus in Greek mythology, and from famous stock, for Thessalus was the son of the hero Jason.
Thessalus Son of Jason and Medea
Thessalus was named as a son of the hero Jason and sorceress Medea.
Jason and Medea had returned from Colchis with the Golden Fleece, and had subsequently married. The pair had made themselves a home in Corinth. For ten years Jason and Medea lived in Corinth, in which time they became parents to perhaps as many as six children. As well as Thessalus, there were four other sons, Memerus, Pheres, Alcimenes and Tisandrus, and also a daughter called Eriopis. |
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Jason decided though, now was the time to leave Medea and marry Glauce, the daughter of King Creon of Corinth. Medea of course took this badly, and she set about killing her children. Certainly Alcimenes and Tisandrus died at her hands, whilst Memerus, Pheres and Eriopis, may also have been killed by Medea, or else they were killed by the Corinthians after the death of Creon and Glauce.
Commonly it was said that Thessalus was the only one of Jason and Medea’s children to survive the events in Corinth, and he lived to grow into adulthood. Jason of course also left Corinth.
Commonly it was said that Thessalus was the only one of Jason and Medea’s children to survive the events in Corinth, and he lived to grow into adulthood. Jason of course also left Corinth.
Thessalus King of IolcusThe story of Thessalus then switches from Corinth to Iolcus. Iolcus at the time was ruled by King Acastus, son of Pelias, and his wife Astydamia.
Years earlier Acastus had exiled Jason and Medea following the death of Pelias. Then Astydamia falsely accused Peleus of rape, resulting in Acastus’ attempt to have his guest killed by the centaurs. Peleus returned to Iolcus, with an army, and was accompanied by Jason, as well as Castor and Pollux. The city of Iolcus fell to Peleus’ force. Some say that Jason, would become king, but more commonly it was said that it was Thessalus who was put on the throne. It could of course be argued that this was Thessalus’ birthright, for Pelias had usurped the rule of Aeson, Thessalus’ grandfather. Nothing more is said of Thessalus, and during the Trojan War, it was Eumelus, son of Admetus, who led the Boebians, including men from Iolcus, at least according to Homer’s Catalogue of Ships. |
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Colin Quartermain - Thessalus - 27th January 2024