Character Relationship Map: Medea

Characters

• Medea (played by Maria Callas) — protagonist

  Colchian priestess responsible for human sacrifice rituals. After a vision of Giasone, she steals the Golden Fleece and kills her brother to delay pursuing forces. Escapes to Greece, marries Giasone,...

• Creonte (played by Massimo Girotti) — protagonist

  King of Corinth who fears Medea's wrath and magic. He banishes her but grants a one-day delay for her preparations. Later dies by leaping from the city walls after embracing his poisoned daughter, Gla...

• Chirone (played by Laurent Terzieff) — supporting

  Centaur mentor who raises young Giasone and prophesies his quest for the Golden Fleece. Later appears in human form in Corinth to reveal to Giasone that Medea is psychologically torn between her Colch...

• Giasone (played by Giuseppe Gentile) — supporting

  Son of Aeson, raised in hiding by Chirone. Challenges usurper Pelias by retrieving the Golden Fleece and marries Medea. Eventually grows distant, abandons her for a political marriage to Princess Glau...

• Glauce (played by Margareth Clémenti) — supporting

  Corinthian princess chosen by Giasone for political marriage. She unknowingly receives a poisoned robe and crown from Medea, catches fire, and jumps to her death from the city ramparts.

• Argonaut (played by Franco Jacobbi) — minor
• Pelias (played by Paul Jabara) — supporting

  Cruel tyrant and usurper of Iolcus who removed his half-brother Aeson from power. Demands the Golden Fleece as a condition to relinquish the throne and reneges on his promise when Giasone returns, pro...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Giasone → Creonte (Professional Political Intermediary) — Giasone acts as the intermediary between Medea's request and Creonte's authority.

  Giasone goes to Creonte with Medea's request that the children not be banished.

• Creonte → Medea (Power Ruler And Exile) — Creonte exercises political authority over Medea while fearing her retaliation.

  Creonte fears Medea's wrath and magic, banishes her from Corinth, and grants her one day to prepare for departure.

• Giasone → Glauce (Romantic Political Marriage Prospect) — Glauce becomes the replacement partner whose marriage triggers Medea's revenge.

  Giasone grows distant from Medea and decides to pursue a political marriage with the Corinthian princess Glauce.

• Medea → Giasone (Romantic Partner) — Their marriage begins through Medea's devotion but deteriorates when Giasone pursues Glauce.

  Medea becomes captivated by a vision of Giasone, helps him obtain the Golden Fleece, travels to Greece with him, marries him, and bears his two sons.

• Creonte → Glauce (Family Father) — Creonte's fear for Glauce drives his decision to banish Medea.

  Glauce is identified as Creonte's daughter, and Creonte dies after embracing her when Medea's poison takes effect.

• Chirone → Giasone (Professional Mentor) — Chirone provides Giasone's education and prepares him for the quest.

  Chirone raises Giasone in hiding, teaches him about the world, and tells him about the future voyage to Colchis.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Chirone → Medea (related)
• Medea → Pelias (related)
• Medea → Chirone (related)
• Pelias → Chirone (related)
• Pelias → Medea (related)
• Medea → Glauce (Conflict Vengeful Enemy) — Medea targets Glauce as the symbol of Giasone's abandonment.

  Medea sends Glauce a poisoned robe and crown while pretending to accept her marriage to Giasone.

• Giasone → Argonaut (Alliance Expedition Leader) — The Argonaut is part of the expedition connected to Giasone's Fleece quest.

  Giasone and Medea eventually join the Argonauts, who have been marching toward Colchis.

• Medea → Pelias (Conflict Political Opponent) — Medea's quest indirectly challenges Pelias's control of Iolcus.

  Medea helps Giasone obtain and deliver the Golden Fleece, while Pelias refuses to honor the promised transfer of power.

• Pelias → Giasone (Conflict Political Opponent) — Pelias redirects Giasone's challenge into the dangerous Fleece quest.

  Giasone challenges Pelias for the throne, and Pelias demands the Golden Fleece as the condition for giving up the kingdom.

Story Analysis

A mythic tragedy about cultural exile, broken devotion, and revenge that destroys both family and political order.

Plot Progression

1. The Fleece Prophecy — Pelias seizes power in Iolcus while Giasone is hidden and educated by Chirone. Medea's ritual world and vision of Giasone establish the forces that will bring them together.
2. Flight From Colchis — Giasone accepts the challenge to retrieve the Golden Fleece. Medea steals it, joins his expedition, and uses a brutal delay to escape the pursuing Colchians.
3. Alien Ground — In Greece, Medea cannot reconnect with the earth and magic of Colchis. Pelias breaks his promise, while Medea attempts to inhabit the role of a Greek wife.
4. Banishment and Deception — Giasone chooses a political marriage with Glauce, and Creonte banishes Medea. Medea secures one additional day by pretending that she accepts the new marriage.
5. Fire and Final Loss — Medea sends Glauce poisoned wedding gifts, causing the deaths of Glauce and Creonte. She then kills her sons and burns the house while refusing Giasone's final plea.