Absyrtus

• a son of Aeetes, king of Colchis, killed by his sister Medea in her flight with Jason; he was torn in pieces by her, and his limbs were scattered in the way to prevent her father's pursuit, Ov. Tr. 3, 9, 6 sq.; Cic. N. D. 3, 19, 48.

• a river in Illyria which flows into the Adriatic Sea, Luc. 3, 190 (al. Absyrtis or Apsyrtis).

(Ἄψυρτος), or Apsyrtus, a son of Aeetes, king of Colchis, and brother of Medeia. His mother is stated differently: Hyginus (Fab. 13) calls her Ipsia, Apollodorus (1.9.23) Idyia, Apollonius (3.241) Asterodeia, and others Hecate, Neaera, or Eurylyte. (Schol. ad Apollon. l.c.) When Medeia fled with Jason, she took her brother Absyrtus with her, and when she was nearly overtaken by her father, she murdered her brother, cut his body in pieces and strewed them on the road, that her father might thus be detained by gathering the limbs of his child. Tomi, the place where this horror was committed, was believed to have derived its name from τέμνω, " cut." (Apollod. 1.9.24; Ov. Tr. 3.9; compare Apollon. 4.338, &c. 460, &c.) According to another tradition Absyrtus was not taken by Medeia, but was sent out by his father in pursuit of her. he overtook her in Corcyra, where she had been kindly received by king Alcinous, who refused to surrender her to Absyrtus. When he overtook her a second time in the island of Minerva, he was slain by Jason. (Hyg. Fab. 23.) A tradition followed by Pacuvius (Cic. de nat. deor. 3.19), Justin (42.3), and Diodorus (4.45), called the son of Aeetes, who was murdered by Medeia, Aegialeus. [L.S]

or Apsyrtus (Ἄψυρτος). The son of Aeëtes, king of Colchis, whom Medea took with her when she fled with Iason. Being pursued by her father, she murdered her brother, cut his body in pieces, and threw them into the sea, that her father might be detained by gathering the limbs of his child. Tomi, the place where this horror was committed, was believed to have derived its name from τέμνω, “cut.” See Argonautae; Medea.