Medea: Ancient Greece's Super Witch

Happy Halloween! I wanted to try something different for this video - what do you think? In this episode, I walk through the story of Medea, narrating a composite of the major sources who report on her life. Not only is Medea the most famous of ancient Greece's witches, her story is also one of the most complex, heartbreaking, and frightening.
00:00 Introduction
1:45 Part I: Medea in Colchis
8:42 Part 2: From Colchis to Iolchos
11:38 Part 3: Medea in Corinth
15:48 Part 4: The End of a Tragedy
16:48 Thanks for Watching
Ancient Sources:
- Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 3-4 (and see also the introduction to the Cambridge commentary to Book 3: www.amazon.com/Apollonius-Rho... )
- Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 6-8
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 7
- Pindar, Pythian Ode 4
- Euripides, Medea
- Seneca, Medea
Music: "Descent from the Olympos Pentatonic." (original)
Website: www.hearthofhaemonia.com
IG/Pinterest/Vero: @hearthofhaemonia
Contact: [e-mail]
Images:
- Medea, Germán Hernández Amores, 1887: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Red figure Calyx-Krater, Medea on her chariot: public domain (via www.clevelandart.org/art/1991.1)
- Medea About to Murder Her Children, Eugène Ferdinand Victor Delacroix, 1862: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Medea, Frederick Sandys, 1866-1868: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Map of Colchis: Deu (via Wikimedia Commons)
- King Aeëtes, Bartolomeo di Giovanni, 1487: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Circe Offering the Cup to Odysseus, John William Waterhouse, 1891: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Marble relief of Hecate: Zde (via Wikimedia Commons)
- The Campana Hera, 2nd c.: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Aphrodite statue, 2nd c.: Marsyas (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Jason fresco: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Eros Stringing His Bow, Capitoline Museum, 2nd c.: Maria-Lan Nguyen (via Wikimedia Commons)
- The Argo, Konstantinos Volanakis, 1837-1907: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Red figure calyx-krater, Jason returns with the Golden Fleece, 4th c. BCE: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- The Centaur Chiron teaching Achilles how to play the lyre, Herculaneum: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Pelias recognizes Jason by his one sandal, Pompeii, 1st c. CE: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Jason with the Golden Fleece, statue, Thorvaldensens Museum (Denmark): public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Phrixus tries to save Helle on their flight to Colchis, Pompeii fresco: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Dardanelles (Hellespont) map: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Attic red-figure krater, Gathering of the Argonauts, 5th c. BCE: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Jason attempting to retrieve the Golden Fleece, Roman sarcophagus: Marie-Lan Ngyuen (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Jason yokes the fire-breathing bulls, Medea Sarcophagus: www.flickr.com/photos/pelegri...
- Cadmus fighting a dragon, black figure amphora, 6th c. BCE: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Jason is regurgitated by the serpent, Douris cup: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Jason and Medea, Charles André van Loo, 1759: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Jason and Medea, Roman sarcophagus, 2nd c CE: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Jason and Medea Capturing the Golden Fleece, Henry Fuseli, 1806: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Jason and Medea, John William Waterhouse, 1907: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Jason yokes the bulls, Carracci: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Jason und Medea, Christian Daniel Rauch, 1818: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Medea with the Argonauts as she murders Apsurtos, Carracci: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Woodcut print, Jason and Medea escape after killing Apsurtos: kladcat (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Iolcos on map of Mycenaean Greece: Alexikoua (via Wikimedia Commons
- Medea rejuvenates Aeson, Nicolas-André Monsiau, 1754-1837: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Map of ancient Corinth: EcoChap (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Death of Heracles (Muerte de Hércules), Francisco de Zurbarán, 1634: public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Medea offering a cup to Theseus with Aegeus, William Russell Flint, 1911: www.maicar.com/GML/Aegeus1.html

[@Eloise_Please]

This video was incredible! Your storytelling is beautiful and clear, and I personally loved the format!

[@hearthofhaemonia]

Thank you! I appreciate the support!

[@feralfoods]

very well done! beautiful video. -i totally feel for Medea in some ways; i knew someone kinda like her, but not a murder. life just seemed to shit on her and her plans, and it was rarely her fault. those who were at fault got away with everything. and like many classic tragedies, she ended up taking her own life at only 39 yrs. just goes to show that not much has changed over the centuries and millenia; people are still people, jerks are still jerks, and almost nothing original has been written for thousands of years. -didn't mean to get so dark. thank you for everything.

[@hearthofhaemonia]

I'm so sorry to hear that. Your story reminds me of Ajax, the Greek commander who was driven mad by the gods and ended up taking the same final action. Thank you for sharing.

[@feralfoods]

@@hearthofhaemonia thank you, i've never heard the story of Ajax, i'll check it out. and thank you for your other replys, i'm trying to re-learn Latin, and now i've got lots of reasons/reading to catch up on.

[@hearthofhaemonia]

Have you tried Lingua Latin Per Se Illustrata? It's a reader/textbook that I'd highly recommend, especially if you have some familiarity with the language already. It's graded, starting off with simple syntax and limited vocabulary and building over the course of the book. I'm going through it right now and it's been very helpful.

[@feralfoods]

@@hearthofhaemonia much appreciated! -i just added the hardcover to my amazon cart. i'm going through Wheelocks Latin 7th Edition right now, but it will be cool to have another/different approach as well. awesome!

[@zachrumney841]

Absolutely amazing production! Music, artwork and pacing. Please make this the standard format going forward 🙏🏻

[@hearthofhaemonia]

Thank you, Zach! I'll definitely be incorporating this style as much as I can.

[@user-bh3bo6de7q]

I named my daughter Medea....i love her

[@magicknight13]

Wow, just wow! This video is absolutely brilliantly done. I have only overwhelmingly good things to say. That intro was so atmospheric ! New subscriber and I'm here to stay !

[@hearthofhaemonia]

Thanks so much, and welcome!!

[@durimmiziraj4815]

Really nice work. Youve got yourself a subscriber.

[@hearthofhaemonia]

Welcome!

[@riacaasi5259]

I stumbled across your channel while searching for herbalism in Ancient Greece. Your videos are wonderful, thank you for the knowledge you're sharing. You've got my "subscribe"

[@hearthofhaemonia]

So glad you're enjoying!

[@lw3716]

this was beautifully done, the music and storyline was well put together, and i would love to see more like this!

[@hearthofhaemonia]

Thanks!

[@allangardiner2515]

Wonderful work Kate. This would be a great educational resource.

[@hearthofhaemonia]

Thanks! I hope people find it useful.

[@ShapeStoned]

This story is so heartbreaking

[@markwarrensprawson]

There is a historical Greek text that refutes the tale of Medea's murdering her children. I will come back here with more when I've got my ducks in a row. I just can't remember who wrote of it right now, but I do recall it being a very credible source. It calls out the people of (and again, I might be mistaken - I will check and come back) Corinth for capturing Medea's children, murdering them savagely and then blaming the murder on her as an an act of mega-early propaganda. Like I say, I promise, I've bookmarked this video and I will be back with the sources. Medea's the girl I wish I could marry but would never be able to - a particular bright light emanates from her section of my pantheon. Matter of fact, I think it comes through a little just about everywhere. Thanks so much for featuring her story on you channel.

[@hearthofhaemonia]

Yes, that's right. There are competing versions of most of the details of Medea's story. I went with the most famous, but you're right - there are versions that say the Corinthians killed the children, and others that say Medea killed them to avoid the Corinthians killing them. Putting together a coherent storyline for the video was actually really challenging because of how many details and versions there are! Definitely one of my favorites - thanks for bringing this up!

[@erykahhoney588]

Very interesting story! Many southern black Americans call their great grandmothers and grandmothers Madea. It started out as Ma Dear. Many southern black women are root workers.

[@willsi]

Well done!

[@Emanonerewhon]

This video was excellent. I hope you will continue to produce such excellent work.

[@DrakikleidiLeia]

Thank you. This was beautiful. Blessed be

[@johnaltemueller5770]

Love the style of this video ! Great content and presentation.

[@hearthofhaemonia]

Thank you!

[@alexandra.m.k]

Great storytelling!

[@PeterMichaelPreble]

Well done. Well done. I like this format. Keep up the good work.

[@hearthofhaemonia]

Thank you!! Means a lot coming from you!

[@thebritishtartarian174]

This was really good. Ur voice is very easy on the ears and fascinating subjects

[@hearthofhaemonia]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@juancondemarin7795]

Excellent. Very didactic beautifully done. Congratulations.

[@Dr.Bitterbrains-xf9pr]

Amazing video need more on Medea and Hekate with some Medusa on the side 🐍🔥

[@keikeilocs]

Interesting story 💜

[@GuiaShopaholic]

Excellent.

[@tartariabritannica]

thank you

[@milouda78]

Thank you for everything you do ❤️ bless you sweetheart 😘 ❤️ 💕 💖 💗

[@MisterSifuentes]

exquisite!

[@ronjohnson4566]

im interested in medea myself so found your video. just finished. the visuals are great, the story is good, and the transitions are a bit abrupt. for me, the overall effect was clear and precise. (and before i continue, way beyond my abilities, so there is that). the tone was almost as if you were telling the true story (documentary style) of this character. When you get to the first transition. the music stopped and new completely different music began, that was when i first noticed the abruptness of the transitions. So, do i have the answers to my observations? definitely not. Maybe the music could be a little more ancient greeky? the scene endings or transitions could be a little more mysterious. Maybe something like wafting smoke or some such. when i think of stories like this I go back to my youth when Fellini and Lena Wertmuelller were making edgy surreal films. Maybe watching Satyricon by Fellini and Seven Beauties by Wertmueller could spark some ideas. I'll shut up now.

[@user-ib7tm8gq5c]

Love you

[@epikurejczyk]

Hmm... I always had some kind of sympathy for Medea. And, in a way, I still have, though she was a monster. However, how many of her crimes were her fault, and how many were orchestrated by the gods? I do not know. I didn't know before watching your video about that arrow. That changes some things. She was a puppet in gods' hands. Reminds me of Job from the Bible. Immense suffering, and for what? Are we completely powerless against the gods? Maybe her heinous crimes were a way to free herself from their influence? Maybe she just wanted to make everybody suffer like she was? And as for the format of the video I really like it. I especially like the music cues. Maybe you can experiment with doing some mix up of this format and the one from previous videos?

[@hearthofhaemonia]

I totally agree! She does cause a lot of her own problems, but she's acting under the influence of the gods. Especially in Euripides' play, I find her really unsympathetic. But the stories about her early life paint a different picture. Thanks so much for the feedback! I was thinking of doing something like that, making videos in both styles and even combining them.

[@CharismaCaster]

Just a little note. The e at the end of Hekate is pronounced the same as Aphrodite or Circe. It’s the η letter. ❤

[@hearthofhaemonia]

Yep, I base my pronunciation off of Erasmian (what you learn in ancient Greek class, basically). It's different from modern Greek, so η would be like a long ē. I'd pronounce Aphrodite and Circe the same as I do Hekate :)

[@CharismaCaster]

We take Ancient Greek even in school here so I don’t need to be explained my own language to me.

[@daniawaldroup4683]

Kate what sun astrology is Medea

[@hearthofhaemonia]

Good question! We only know about Medea from the stories told about her in Greek mythology. Because of that, we don't have any birth data for her at all. That might be a fun experiment, trying to guess the astrological signs of mythological people!

[@nina27707]

she was not Greek, she was Georgian or Colchis (current Georgia) witch and I am proud to be her descendant

[@hearthofhaemonia]

That's right. We know about her from Greek literature, hence the title of my video. But if you watch, you'll see how she came from Colchis to various places in Greece, which became famous for their contact with her.

[@aliensurfer3976]

Great presentation. But the music and video editing breaks the spell for me. Medea deserves a second attempt at some point in the future. Cheers.

[@giorgiwverianashvili1562]

Meda was not Greek and she was not a witch, she was from Kolkheti or Georgia She was the strongest woman in history

[@user-lr5ey7nm3x]

True!!!!

[@pantheonastrology9020]

Most powerful woman in history, daughter of Hecate and Queen of all witches. Greatest witch in history. Literally the prototype of all witches.

[@Corduene.]

Medea Kurdish Prenses ❤