Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Absyrtus
ABSYRTUS or APSYRTUS (Ἄψυρτος), a son of Aeetes, king of Colchis, and brother of Medeia. His mother is stated differently: HygiHyginus (Fab. 13) calls her Ipsia, Apollodorus (i. 9. §23) Idyia, Apollonius (iii. 241) Asterodeia, and others Hecate, Neaera, or Eurylyte. (Schol. ad Apollon. I. 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." (Apllod. i. 9. §24; Ov. Trist. iii. 9; compare Apllon. iv. 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. (Hygin. Fab. 23.) A tradition followed by Pacuvius (Cic. de nat. deor. iii. 19), Justin (xlii. 3), and Diodorus (iv. 45), called the son of Aeëtes, who was murdered by Medeia, Aegialeus. [L. S.]