Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-19
The Hearless Meda, Flight
Young Brother Dsmembered Thrown
to Delay Her Angry Fathers Pursuit. (From The
Painting by H. J. Drape

q former marriage, and was forced to Zee
from Athens to save her life.
She returned 10 Colchis-perhans IN
the very palace whose ruins have Just
been brought to Highland there, in com.
parative quietude, passed the closing years
OF her eventful life.
That tho woman herself was something
more than myth is shown by the mention
OF Medea which the veracious Herodotus
makes In the early chapters OF his history.
There he tells OF warlike expedition
against Aea, the capital city Of Colchis,
on the river Phasis. which had for It's i'm.
mediate object her capture. The palace
whose ruins have lately been uncovered
stood in tho city OF Aca. and 1t was doubt.
less there that the warriors who came sail.
ing up the river in search of Medea found
the princess.
The ruins OF Medeas home have as vet
been only specifically explored, >but
enough has already been seen to make It
certain that they will yield a wealth OF
historic treasures enough to fill O whole
museum.
There are many broken columns" says
the first report Of the discovery TO reach
this country, rude stone foundations and
indications of walls, showing that the
palace and its courts must have covered
at least three acres OF ground. Here and
there are bronze urns, with Greek letters
inscribed on them. There are many
earthen pots and some stone vases, beau
tifully carved. although for the most part
broken. Scratching into some parts OF
the ruins. as time allowed, all kinds OF
utensils have been brought to light. in
Guiding quite number Of articles OF
feminine adornment. such as bronze, silver
and even gold earrings and fnger-rings,
bracelets cunningly wrought and some.
times beautifully carved"
Every fragment Of these precious relics
will be studied by archaeologists with the
greatest care in the hope that It may re-
veal new and still more surprising chap
tiers in the story of Medea, or that it may
help us to understand how much OF what
We already know about her Is truth and
how much legend. Scholars are quite gen.
orally agreed that there is much of real
history mingled with the myths Of Jason
and the Golden Fleece, and this Is why
the discovery OF the palace where lived
the princess who played such q prominent
part In them Is likely to provo Of the
greatest Importance.
According to the fable tho Golden
Fleece had been created by Mercury 10
carry the children Of the King OF Thessaly
10 safety after he had deserted his wife,
Nephele, for another woman. Landing in
the kingdom of Colchis, on the eastern
shore Of the Black Sea- the ram was sac.
rihced to Jupiter and tile Golden Fleece
was given to Aetes, King of Cochis and
father Of Medea. who placed it In
sacred 5d grove, guarded by a sleepless
dragon. The tale of the Golden Fleece
reaching Thessaly Jason Is tempted by his
Uncle to go In search Of 1t. Argus built
special vessel for him, large enough to
mold ffty men, who were called the Argo-
nauts, after the name OF the vessel, the
When, finally, after many adventures.
they reached the kingdom of Colchis. King