Medea

The Medea is a well known ancient play written by Seneca. Lucius Annaeus Seneca was from Cordoba, Spain. As an ancient Roman he inherited many of the traditions and beliefs of the Romans, as well as the Greeks before them. Medea was based upon a pre-existing myth surrounding a mystical golden fleece. The main character, Medea, was a witch from Colchis, along the eastern shores of the Black Sea. She loves Jason, the hero, whom she helps gain power through the use of magic. But, Jason turns on her and marries another woman, after Medea has already born him two children. In her rage she seeks revenge upon Jason by killing their children.

Recently I learned of the existence of an ancient town. This town was originally under the power of the Assyrians, who used it's great access to horses to add speed to their army. The town then was helped to lead a revolt against their foreign dictators. After winning the town became one of the most prominent of the region. It maintained that status, even after King Cyrus of the Persians, conquered it's walls. The town was called Media.
When King Cyrus expanded his campaign to be a supreme leader and conquer of all he expanded towards the Greek lands. When he came into contact with the Ionians he gave his general, Harpagus instructions to conquer these people using all the force and brutality that the Persians were famous for. Harpagus did a splendid job. The Ionions feared this general, who was from the city of Media, to such an extent that they started to refer to the Persians as Medes.

I have not done any further research, but it appears to me that Seneca borrowed the name Media (this is the English spelling, Medea is the Latin spelling) to represent the most horrific, and brutal woman depicted in the ancient plays.