Aeetes

Aeetes (Ancient Greek: Αἰήτης) was a Colchian king from Greek mythology. He was a son of Helios and Perseis and the brother of Pasiphae, Circe, and Perses. With Idyia, Aeetes fathered Medea, Chalciope, and Absyrtus. Other names given for the consort of Aeetes were Asterodia or Neaera.

Golden Fleece
Phrixus and Helle were twin siblings and children of Athamas and Nephele, a nymph. They were both hated by their step-mother, Ino. In order to get rid of them, Ino roasted all of the seeds in their town so that none of them would sprout and grow. The farmers thought this was a famine sent by the gods so they consulted the oracle. Ino convinced the farmers who went to the oracle to lie and say that the oracle requested the sacrifice of Phrixus for the famine to be lifted. The people complied but Phrixus and Helle were saved by a golden ram sent by Nephele. Although Helle fell from the ram and died, Phrixus escaped to Colchis and was taken in by Aeetes. Phrixus married Aeetes' daughter Chalciope. As an act of gratitude, Phrixus gave Aeetes the golden fleece of the ram, which Aeetes hung on a tree in Colchis.

Jason and the Argonauts
Later in Aeetes life, Jason and the Argonauts arrived in Colchis to take the golden fleece. Aeetes agreed to give Jason the fleece if he could perform certain labors. Jason had to yoke fire-breathing oxen and plow a field with them. He then had to sow dragon teeth into the field, which sprouted into an army of warriors. These warriors would have attacked Jason had he not thrown a rock into the crowd and started a fight amongst them. All of the warriors fought until only one was left.

Lastly, Jason had to slay the dragon that never slept that was guarding the fleece. After successfully doing this, Jason took the fleece and sailed away with Aeetes' daughter Medea since she was in love with him and helped him defeat the dragon. Aeetes tried to follow Jason but Medea stopped her father by killing and dismembering her brother Absyrtus.