Absyrtides or Apsyrtides or Apsirtides (;

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

: Arcipelago delle Absirtidi) was a collective name of two islands off the coast of Illyricum –

Cres Cres 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, Krk island or from the Istrian peninsula (line Brestova-Porozina). With an area of , Cres has the same si ...

(''Cherso'' in

) and

Lošinj Lošinj (; ; , earlier ''Osero''; ; ; ) 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 Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. The settlements on Lošinj include Nerez ...

(''Lussino'' in

), which were almost attached. The islands were 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, Medea (; ; ) is the daughter of Aeëtes, King Aeëtes of Colchis. Medea is known in most stories as a sorceress, an accomplished "wiktionary:φαρμακεία, pharmakeía" (medicinal magic), and is often depicted as a high- ...

and by

Jason Jason ( ; ) was an ancient Greek mythological hero and leader of the Argonauts, whose quest for the Golden Fleece is featured in Greek literature. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcos. He was married to the sorceress Med ...

, 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 (; , ; ; – 160s/170s AD) was a Greco-Roman mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were important to later Byzantine science, Byzant ...

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

) and Apsorrus (the modern Osor, now all in

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

References

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