Absyrtides or Apsyrtides or Apsirtides ( grc, Ἀψυρτίδες; Italian: Arcipelago delle Absirtidi) was a collective name of two islands off the coast of Illyricum –

Cres Cres (; dlm, Crepsa, vec, Cherso, it, Cherso, la, Crepsa, Greek: Χέρσος, ''Chersos'') is an Adriatic island in Croatia. It is one of the northern islands in the Kvarner Gulf and can be reached via ferry from Rijeka, the island Krk o ...

(''Cherso'' in Italian) and

Lošinj Lošinj (; it, Lussino; vec, Lusin, earlier ''Osero''; german: Lötzing; la, Apsorrus; grc, Ἄψορρος) is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, in the Kvarner Gulf. It is almost due south of the city of Rijeka and part of the ...

(''Lussino'' in Italian), which were almost attached. The named after

Absyrtus In Greek mythology, Absyrtus (Ancient Greek: Ἄψυρτος) or Apsyrtus, was a Colchian prince and the younger brother of Medea. he was involved in Jason's escape with the golden fleece from Colchis The Absyrtides were named after him. Fam ...

, who according to one tradition, was slain here by his sister

Medea In Greek mythology A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the origin and nature of the world, the ...

and by

Jason Jason ( ; ) was an ancient Greece, ancient Greek Greek mythology, mythological hero and leader of the Argonauts, whose quest for the Golden Fleece featured in Greek literature. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcos. He was marri ...

, while according to another story because his dead body was drawn by the waves to the islands.Orphic Argonautica, 1020-1035
/ref>

Ptolemy Claudius Ptolemy (; grc-gre, Πτολεμαῖος, ; la, Claudius Ptolemaeus; AD) was a mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist, who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were of import ...

mentions only one island, ''Apsorrus'' (Ἄψορρος), on which he places two towns Crepsa (Κρέψα) (the modern

) and Apsorrus (the modern

Osor Osor may refer to these places and jurisdictions : * Osor, Croatia, town, former bishopric and present Latin Catholic titular see * Osor, Girona, village in Catalonia * Bishop of Osor * Open Source Observatory and Repository See also * Osorio (d ...

, now all in

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

References

* Steph. Byz. ''s.v.'' * Mel. 2.7. * Plin. N. H. 3.26. * Ptol. Geog. 2.16.13. * Classical geography Islands of Croatia History of the Adriatic Sea {{PrimorjeGorskiKotar-geo-stub