Medea, oil on panel painting with gilded background by Frederick Sandys, 1868.
Medea is a key figure in the story of the quest for the Golden Fleece and a recurring subject of art and musical productions. According to Greek mythology, she was the daughter of the king of Colchis and a descendant of the sun god Helios and the enchantress Circe. In the role of the sorceress who helps the young hero complete their quest and the spited woman who kills her own children, Medea embodies one of the oldest female archetypes in literature and theatre.
Birmingham Museum and Art Collection, United Kingdom.
Related Images
Jason Brings Pelias the Golden Fleece
Ishtar's Descent into the Underworld Inscription
The Madness of Charles VI
Circe Invidiosa by John William Waterhouse
Helios Red-Figure Vase
Helios Relief, Troy
Cite This Work
APA Style
Sandys, F. (2026, January 26). Medea's Descent into Madness. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21551/medeas-descent-into-madness/
Chicago Style
Sandys, Frederick. "Medea's Descent into Madness." World History Encyclopedia, January 26, 2026. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21551/medeas-descent-into-madness/.
MLA Style
Sandys, Frederick. "Medea's Descent into Madness." World History Encyclopedia, 26 Jan 2026, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21551/medeas-descent-into-madness/.
