Thésée (Lully)

'Theseus') is a tragédie en musique, an early type of French opera, in a prologue and five acts with music by Jean-Baptiste Lully and a libretto by Philippe Quinault based on Ovid's Metamorphoses.

Medea attempts to force the lovers to renounce each other: first by using her magic to bring Aegle to a place of torment, then by convincing Aegeus to have Theseus killed as a potential threat to his reign.

Princess Aegle is in love with Theseus and prays for his safe return from battle against rebels who are threatening King Aegeus of Athens.

Aegeus is jealous of Theseus's popularity with the people of Athens, who want to make him the king's heir because of his bravery in battle.

Medea threatens Aegle that she will use her magic against her if the princess does not renounce her love for Theseus and marry the king instead.

She conjures up a vision of a terrifying desert full of monsters, and also menaces Aegle with demons from hell.