Chalciope (daughter of Aeetes)
Chalciope, in Greek mythology, was a Colchian princess as the daughter of King Aeëtes. Acusilaus, Hesiod and Hesychius referred to her as Iophossa while according to Pherecydes, she was called Euenia.
Family
Chalciope's mother was the Oceanid Idyia, and her siblings were the witch Medea and Absyrtus. She married Phrixus by whom she had the following sons:- Argus, Phrontis, Melas and Cytisorus or
- Argus, Phrontides, Melas and Cylindrus or
- Argos, Phrontis, Melias, Sorus, Katis and Hellen
- some authors added Presbon.
Mythology
Chalciope supposedly persuaded Medea to help Jason because her sons were rescued in the island of Dia by the Argonauts after they were shipwrecked.The following recounts the encounter between Chalciope and her sons after their rescue by the heroes of the Argo:
When Aeetes was dethroned and banished by his brother Perses, Chalciope expressed great filial devotion and stayed by her father's side, even though he had killed her husband Phrixus whom he mistakenly feared to drive him away from his kingdom.