PIRITHOUS (son of Ixion)

Pirithous exercised rule over the area alongside Ixion, and together they conquered the Perrhaebi to gain control of their lands.^4,13 He forcibly expelled the Centaurs from the mountain of Pelion and handed the plains over to the Lapithae, having previously driven shaggy mountain savages from Mt. Pelion to the Aithices.^13,7 He assembled with other heroes to hunt the Calydonian boar, and his face was later described as resembling that of the young Pirithous in the presence of a dying figure.^5,14 Nestor compared him to men who were never seen before, and Homer mentioned him in both the Odyssey and the Iliad.¹⁵

Pirithous and Theseus developed a strong friendship and loyalty through their shared encounters and wounds, forming a faithful covenant sealed with oaths.^16,15,17,18 To test the hero's abilities, Pirithous stole cattle belonging to Theseus near Marathon, but when the owner pursued him, he turned to face Theseus instead of fleeing.¹⁹ Pirithous offered to let Theseus judge his act of robbery and willingly accepted any penalty Theseus might assign, leading to their joint adventures.^18,20 They traveled to Thesprotia to seize the wife of a Thesprotian king, where Pirithous was captured during the invasion.^21,22 Pindar claims Peirithous carried off Antiope the Amazon together with Theseus, and he was preparing to take Deidameia as his wife.^23,24

His marriage to Hippodameia, the daughter of Butes, was celebrated with stone wine vessels with gold edges, pinewood couches placed on the ground, and earthenware cups for drinking.^6,25,26 He requested Theseus attend his wedding to meet the Lapithae, and he extended invitations to the Centaurs for his wedding feast.²⁴ During this wedding feast, a Centaur named Eurytion seized his wife and committed violent acts within his house while intoxicated.^27,28 The heroes present punished Eurytion by mutilating him, and Pirithous fought hand-to-hand with spears against the Centaurs in this engagement.^28,11 In battle, he wore gold armour on his body and wielded a spear in his powerful right hand, while a sword that belonged to him was held by Theseus.^11,29,20

Traditions credit Theseus and Pirithous with having visited the infernal regions, following a path beneath the land of Taenarus.^30,31,32 They discovered the ferry boat of the dead was missing from its usual spot, and Pirithous attempted to take Persephone as his wife.^33,1,34 As a consequence of his actions, he was bound fast in Hades, with a rock growing to his flesh to serve as chains, and he was subject to a crag of flint hanging quaking above his impious brows.^34,31,20,35 Pirithous was found near the gates of Hades by Heracles, and he stretched out his hands to Heracles hoping to be rescued.^34,36 Pirithous died leaving behind a son named Polypoetes, who was later listed among the suitors of Helen.^37,38,6,25