Pirithous

Pirithous (also spelled Peirithous) was the king of the Lapiths in Greek mythology, the husband of Hippodamia and the close friend of the hero Theseus. He is remembered for the wedding at which the Centaurs tried to carry off the bride, and for the journey to the Underworld with Theseus to win Persephone, from which he never returned.

Parents and Family

Homer calls Pirithous a son of Zeus (Iliad 2.741): Zeus himself recalls his love for the wife of Ixion, who bore him Pirithous, “the peer of the gods in counsel” (Iliad 14.317–318). Lucian names Ixion’s wife as Dia (Dialogues of the Gods 9.3). Other writers call Pirithous simply the son of Ixion (Apollodorus, Library 1.8.2; Hyginus, Fabulae 79). His wife was Hippodamia (Iliad 2.742), called Hippodame by Ovid (Metamorphoses 12.210) and Deidameia by Plutarch (Theseus 30.3). Their son was Polypoites, who led forty ships of Thessalians to Troy (Iliad 2.738–747). According to Diodorus, Hippodamia died young, leaving the child Polypoites (Library of History 4.63.1).

Friendship with Theseus

Plutarch tells how the friendship began. Pirithous, who wanted to test Theseus’ reputation for strength and courage, drove off his cattle from Marathon. When Theseus pursued him in arms, Pirithous did not run but turned to meet him. Each man was so struck by the other’s courage that they refused to fight, and Pirithous held out his hand and offered to accept any penalty, but Theseus forgave him and asked him to be his friend and comrade in arms (Plutarch, Theseus 30.1–2). Ovid lists them together among the hunters of the Calydonian Boar, calling their friendship a “fortunate harmony” (Metamorphoses 8.303).

The Wedding and the Centauromachy

When Pirithous married Hippodamia, he invited the Centaurs to the wedding feast. They were drunk with wine and tried to carry off the women, and the Lapiths drove them out after a fierce fight (Plutarch, Theseus 30.3). In Ovid’s account the Centaur Eurytus seized the bride by the hair and the others took women as they pleased, until Theseus called out and rescued her and the battle began (Metamorphoses 12.210–235). In the Odyssey Eurytion is the Centaur who behaved wildly in Pirithous’ house, which started the quarrel between Centaurs and men (Odyssey 21.295–304). Nestor says that Pirithous, Theseus and the other Lapiths were the strongest men he ever saw, who fought the mountain-dwelling Centaurs and destroyed them (Iliad 1.262–268). The battle was shown in the sculpture on the west pediment of the temple of Zeus at Olympia, with Pirithous at the center (Pausanias 5.10.8). The fight is told on its own page as the Centauromachy.

The Abduction of Helen

Pirithous and Theseus agreed that each would marry a daughter of Zeus. They carried off Helen from Sparta, and Plutarch says they seized her as she danced in the temple of Artemis Orthia (Plutarch, Theseus 31.2). Her age is given differently in the sources: Apollodorus says she was twelve years old (Epitome 1.23), Diodorus ten (Library of History 4.63.2), and Plutarch says that Hellanicus made Theseus fifty years old and Helen not yet of marriageable age (Theseus 31.1). They cast lots, and Theseus won Helen on condition that he would help Pirithous find another wife. Theseus left Helen at Aphidna in the care of his mother Aethra, and the Dioscuri later came to take her back (Diodorus 4.63.3, 4.63.5).

The Descent to the Underworld

Pirithous then chose Persephone, the wife of Hades, as his own bride. Theseus, bound by the oath, went with him (Diodorus 4.63.4; Apollodorus, Epitome 1.23). Homer already knew the pair among the dead whom Odysseus wished to see in the Underworld (Odyssey 11.631).

• In Apollodorus, Hades invited them to sit on the Chair of Forgetfulness, where they grew fast, held by coils of serpents. Pirithous stayed bound for ever, but Heracles brought Theseus back (Epitome 1.24). When Heracles descended for Cerberus, he pulled Theseus up by the hand, but when he tried to lift Pirithous, the earth shook and he let go (Library 2.5.12).
• In Pausanias, Polygnotus’ painting at Delphi shows both men seated on chairs, Theseus holding both swords, and the poet Panyassis said that the rock grew into their flesh and held them (Pausanias 10.29.9).
• Diodorus says Pirithous remained in Hades under everlasting punishment, though some tellers say that neither returned (Library of History 4.63.4). In another passage he says that Heracles freed both men (4.26.1).
• Plutarch gives a rationalized version. Aidoneus, king of the Molossians in Epirus, called his wife Persephone, his daughter Kore and his dog Cerberus, and required suitors of his daughter to fight the dog. When he learned that the two had come to steal her, he put Pirithous to death by means of the dog and kept Theseus prisoner until Heracles begged his release (Plutarch, Theseus 31.4, 35.1). Pausanias also says they were captured in Thesprotia and held at Cichyrus (Pausanias 1.17.4).

Pausanias adds that Pindar made Pirithous and Theseus carry off the Amazon Antiope (Pausanias 1.2.1).

Pirithous Sources

Homer, Iliad 1.262–268, 2.738–747, 14.317–318 and Odyssey 11.631, 21.295–304; Ovid, Metamorphoses 8.303, 12.210–235; Diodorus Siculus 4.26.1, 4.63; Plutarch, Theseus 30–31, 35; Apollodorus, Library 1.8.2, 2.5.12 and Epitome 1.23–24; Pausanias 1.2.1, 1.17.4, 5.10.8, 10.29.9; Lucian, Dialogues of the Gods 9.3; Hyginus, Fabulae 79.

See Also: Centauromachy, Hippodamia, Theseus, Ixion, Calydonian Boar, Centaur, Helen, Persephone, Aethra, Hades