ÆËTES.  Romanized form of Greek Aietes.  King of Colchis, son of Sol, and Perseis, the daughter of Oceanus, was father of Medea, Absyrtus, and Chalciope, by Idyia, one of the Oceanides.  He killed Phryxus, son of Athamas, who had fled to his court on a golden ram.  This murder he committed to obtain the fleece of the golden ram.  The Argonauts came against Colchis, and recovered the golden fleece by means of Medea, though it was guarded by bulls that breathed fire, and by a venomous dragon.  (Vid. Jason, Medea, and Phryxus).  He was afterward, according to Apollodorus, deprives of his kingdom by his brother Perses, but was restored to it by Medea, who had returned from Greece to Colchis. (A Classical Dictionary, Anthon, 1891).  Also written Äetes and Ætes.