Why Did Medea Kill Her Children? | Ancient Greek Mythology

She helped Jason win the Golden Fleece, betrayed her own family, and became one of the most feared figures in Greek myth. Medea’s name has echoed through the ancient world for over two millennia, a byword for passion and revenge but was she really a villain? In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by acclaimed classicist and bestselling author Natalie Haynes to unravel the full story of Medea. From her origins in distant Colchis on the edge of the Greek imagination to her unforgettable portrayal in Euripides’ tragedy, they explore how the ancient Greeks understood Medea, why her vengeance shocked audiences, and whether she was ever truly the villain of her own story? 0:00 Introduction to Medea 2:26 Earliest Sources: Homer, Hesiod, and Pindar 6:38 The Evolution of Medea’s Character 10:45 Colchis: Medea’s Origins in Modern Georgia 12:35 The "Barbarian" in Greek Tragedy 15:35 The Meeting of Jason and Medea 20:05 The Murder of Absyrtus: Toddler vs Older Brother 23:14 Seeking Sanctuary: Medea in Athens 26:38 Jason and Medea: A Toxic Power Couple 32:30 The Famous Monologues of Euripides 43:35 The Ending: Deosex Machina and the Sun Chariot 46:30 Roman Perspectives: Ovid and Women’s Agency Presented by Tristan Hughes. Producers are Joseph Knight & McKenna Fernandez, senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Editor is Matthew Wilson. Channel manager is Vilde Øksnes. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. All music from Epidemic Sounds. #HistoryHitPodcast #TheAncients #Medea