* This paper was originally delivered in April 1999 under the title ‘Medea on Roman Sarcophagi: exemplum or monstrum?’ at the Gods and Monsters colloquium, Yale University. I would like to thank the colloquium organizers and participants for their questions and comments, which inspired substantial additions to the original text. I am also grateful to Kimberly Bowes, Susan Matheson, Claudia Zatta, and the faculty of Hood College for their helpful suggestions. I am profoundly appreciative of Alison Poe’s detailed criticism and continued support throughout the lengthy revision process. Errors of fact and analysis remain mine alone.