The Myth of Cres
In order to establish the origin of the name of the archipelago that include Cres, Lošinj and a number of smaller islands, it is necessary to look back to the mythical period of classical history and culture, to the 3rd century B.C., when Apollonius wrote the following:
"Fleeing before the Colchids, who wanted to take the Golden Fleece and return it to King Aeetes, the Argonauts, under the command of Jason, arrived in the Kvarner. Jason and the King's daughter Medea, who had fallen in love with him, set out for the northern Adriatic with the Golden Fleece. The King's son Absyrtus went chasing after the thieves of the Golden Fleece. Although the voyage took time, he succeeded in catching up with Jason and Medea. But, the deceitful Medea lured Absyrtus into a conversation and led him under the edge of Jason's sword. Jason killed Absyrtus, but Medea dismembered his body and cast the pieces into the sea. From the cut up limbs appeared the group of islands that were named for the hero - the Absyrtides, or the [Cres-Lošinj] islands."