According to Attic tradition, Medea sojourned for a while at Athens. Euripides took advantage of this fact in order to introduce the Aegeus episode into his _Medea_ and thus bring the Attic king into connection also with an earlier part of the Colchian’s career. His character in this play is presented in agreeable contrast to that of both Medea and Jason, and his chivalry in offering Athens to Medea as an asylum from her enemies would bring a thrill of pride to every Attic heart. Furthermore, his presence served to motivate the famous choral ode (vss. 824 ff.) beginning: O happy the race in the ages olden Of Erechtheus, the seed of the blest Gods’ line, In a land unravaged, peace-enfolden, Aye quaffing of Wisdom’s glorious wine, etc.[305] [Way’s translation] Athens as a place of refuge for suppliants was a favorite note: the conduct of Demophon in Euripides’ _Children of Heracles_ and that of Theseus in Euripides’ _Suppliants_ and Sophocles’ _Oedipus at Colonus_ must have given great pleasure to an Athenian audience. Still more striking are the sentiments of the dramatic characters. When Euripides’ _Children of Heracles_ was produced, the Spartans were accustomed to invade and ravage Attica every year. To the ancestors of these pillagers Iolaus says in the play (vss. 309 ff.): Boys, we have put our friends unto the test:— If home-return shall ever dawn for you, And your sires’ halls and honours ye inherit, Saviours and friends account them evermore, And never against their land lift hostile spear, Remembering this, but hold them of all states Most dear. [Way’s translation] Think what indignation at such ingratitude must have welled up in every spectator’s heart! Later on in the same play (vss. 1026 ff.) the Argive king, Eurystheus, whom Athens has just defeated in battle, is made to say: But I bestow On Athens, who hath spared, who shamed to slay me, An ancient oracle of Loxias, Which in far days shall bless her more than seems, etc. [Way’s translation]