EURYTION (centaur from Pholoe)
Monster · centaur from Pholoe
The heroes, enraged by his rampage, dragged him from the hall and cut off his ears and nostrils as punishment for his ill deeds.1,3 Some accounts say he was sent home sobered with better judgment, while others describe him as fleeing away crazed and bereft of understanding.1,3
In another telling, Eurytion was being forced to marry Mnesimache by Dexamenus, and he came to collect his bride.4 Struck in the left eye by a triple-barbed arrow, he pulled it out, causing the eyeball to melt, and charged his attacker despite the loss.5 A second arrow blinded him completely, yet he continued pursuing his enemy by memory until he tripped over the body of Idas and fell.5 He lay dead, covered in his own blood.6,5
After the centaurs scattered from their conflict with Heracles, Eurytion fled to Pholoe.7
The codex facts behind this entry
Eurytion is identified as one of the Centaurs fighting the Lapithae. Athenaeus 14.1 +1
In the myths
Heroes assembled there cut off his ears and nostrils. Athenaeus 14.1 +1 Wine caused him to go mad and commit ill deeds in Peirithous's house. Athenaeus 14.1 +1 Eurytion insulted Hippolyte and attempted to assault her during a wedding feast. Diodorus 4.33 Eurytion was being forced to marry Mnesimache by Dexamenus. Apollodorus 2.5.5 Eurytion came to collect his bride from Dexamenus. Apollodorus 2.5.5 His actions brought war between mankind and the centaurs. Odyssey 21 ¶27 Eurytion is depicted seizing the wife of Peirithous during a battle. Pausanias 5.10.8 Heroes dragged him out of the hall after his rampage. Athenaeus 14.1 Eurytion was struck in the left eye by an arrow with a triple barb. Statius, Thebaid 9.728-757 ¶1 He pulled the arrow from his eye, causing the eyeball to melt out. Statius, Thebaid 9.728-757 ¶1
Fate
Eurytion was killed and lay dead covered in his own blood. Quintus 6 ¶17 +1 He went away crazed and bereft of understanding. Odyssey 21 ¶27 He was sent home sobered and with better judgment after the incident. Athenaeus 14.1
