Peirithous' Wedding Aftermath: The Abduction

The Battle of Peirithous' Wedding, also known as the Centauromachy, was a famous conflict between the Lapiths and the Centaurs. The battle took place during the wedding of Peirithous and Hippodamia, with the Centaurs getting drunk and attempting to abduct the women, including Hippodamia. The Lapiths emerged victorious, and the battle became a popular motif in Greek art. Following the battle, Peirithous and his friend Theseus pledged to carry off daughters of Zeus. They chose Helen of Sparta and Persephone, respectively, and kidnapped Helen, leaving her with Theseus' mother until she was old enough to marry. When Peirithous and Theseus travelled to the Underworld, they were trapped by Hades and only Theseus was rescued by Hercules. Peirithous was left behind as punishment for his crime of attempting to steal the wife of a god.

Pirithous and Theseus kidnapped Helen of Sparta and Persephone

Pirithous, the King of the Lapiths, and his best friend Theseus, the legendary hero, decided to marry daughters of Zeus. Pirithous and Theseus had become close friends after Pirithous stole Theseus' cattle, and Theseus was impressed by his courage when he came after him.

Theseus chose Helen of Sparta, who was just 13 years old, and gave her to his mother Aethra to look after until she was old enough to marry. Pirithous, on the other hand, chose Persephone, the wife of Hades. Together, they kidnapped Helen and left her with Aethra while they travelled to the Underworld.

Hades pretended to welcome the pair warmly and invited them to sit down to a feast. However, as soon as they sat down, they were trapped. Snakes coiled around their feet, or the stone grew and attached itself to their thighs, and they could not get up. They had been trapped by the Chairs of Forgetfulness, which stripped them of their memories.

Heracles eventually freed Theseus, but when he tried to free Pirithous, the earth shook. Pirithous had committed a grand hubris by trying to kidnap a god's wife, and he was punished for it. While Theseus returned to Athens, Pirithous remained in the Underworld for eternity.

They were detained in the Underworld

After the battle at Peirithous' wedding, Peirithous and his friend Theseus decided to kidnap two daughters of Zeus. Theseus chose Helen of Sparta, while Peirithous chose Persephone, the wife of Hades. They left Helen with Theseus' mother, Aethra, and travelled to the Underworld.

Upon entering the Underworld, Peirithous and Theseus sat on a rock to rest. They soon found themselves unable to stand up as they saw the Furies appear before them. The Greek hero Heracles managed to free Theseus, but when he tried to liberate Peirithous, the earth started shaking. Peirithous had committed a grave crime by attempting to kidnap a god's wife, and so he was left behind in the Underworld.

According to a scholium on Aristophanes, in a lost play by Euripides, Hades had Peirithous fed to Cerberus for his impiety. In the realm of Attic comedy, a humorous tone was adopted for the rescue of Theseus and Peirithous by Heracles. In this version, Heracles succeeded in freeing only Theseus and left behind his buttocks attached to the rocks. This led to Theseus being called "hypolispos", meaning "with hinder parts rubbed smooth".

Peirithous was worshipped at Athens, along with Theseus, as a hero.

Heracles freed Theseus but not Pirithous

In Greek mythology, Pirithous was the King of the Lapiths of Larissa in Thessaly and the best friend of Theseus. Pirithous and Theseus were among the company of heroes that hunted the Calydonian Boar.

Pirithous and Theseus pledged to marry daughters of Zeus. Theseus chose Helen of Sparta and Pirithous chose Persephone herself. They left Helen with Theseus' mother, Aethra, and travelled to the underworld. Hades pretended to welcome them and offered them a feast, but as they sat down, they found themselves unable to get up. They were trapped by snakes or by the stone itself, which grew and attached itself to their thighs.

Heracles freed Theseus from the stone, but when he tried to free Pirithous, the earth shook. Pirithous had committed too great a crime by attempting to steal the wife of one of the great gods as his own bride. According to a scholium on Aristophanes, in a lost play by Euripides, Hades had Pirithous fed to Cerberus for his impiety.

Pirithous was punished for his crime of trying to kidnap a god's wife

Pirithous, the King of the Lapiths of Larissa in Thessaly, was punished for his crime of trying to kidnap a god's wife. After his wedding to Hippodamia, at which the famous Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs occurred, Pirithous and his friend Theseus decided to kidnap two daughters of Zeus. Theseus chose Helen of Sparta, while Pirithous chose Persephone, the wife of Hades.

Upon entering the Underworld, the two men sat on a rock to rest and were confronted by the Furies. Heracles freed Theseus, but when he tried to free Pirithous, the earth started shaking. Pirithous had committed a grave crime by attempting to kidnap a god's wife, and so he was left behind. According to a scholium on Aristophanes, in a lost play by Euripides, Hades punished Pirithous for his impiety by feeding him to Cerberus.

Pirithous was condemned to eternal suffering in the Underworld. In the realm of Attic comedy, the story of his rescue by Heracles took on a humorous tone, with Heracles freeing only Theseus and leaving his buttocks attached to the rocks. This led to Theseus being called "hypolispos", meaning "with hinder parts rubbed smooth".

Pirithous was worshipped at Athens, along with Theseus, as a hero

Pirithous, the King of the Lapiths of Larissa in Thessaly, was worshipped at Athens as a hero, alongside his best friend, Theseus. Pirithous was the son of "heavenly" Dia, fathered either by Ixion or Zeus. In Greek, the name 'Pirithous' is derived from 'peritheein', meaning 'to run around', which is what Zeus did, disguised as a stallion, to seduce Dia.

Pirithous is famous for his friendship with Theseus, another noted Greek hero. Pirithous wished to test Theseus's courage and strength in battle, so he stole his herd of cattle from Marathon. Theseus set off in pursuit, and the pair met in combat. They were evenly matched, and so impressed with each other that they took an oath of friendship. Pirithous and Theseus were among a company of heroes that hunted the Calydonian Boar.

Pirithous was set to marry Hippodamia, with whom he had a son, Polypoetes, a Greek leader during the Trojan War. The wedding was a major event, with guests travelling from far and wide to attend the festivities, including the centaurs, cousins of Pirithous. The centaurs were considered savages and had a reputation for abducting women. As they drank more and more at the wedding feast, they tried to carry off Hippodamia and the other female guests. Pirithous and his comrades took up their weapons, and a mass battle ensued, known as the Centauromachy, the War of the Centaurs. The centaurs' wooden clubs and brute strength were no match for the skill and superior weapons of Pirithous and the other heroes, and soon many lay dead.

After Hippodamia's death, Pirithous and Theseus pledged to marry daughters of Zeus. They kidnapped Helen of Sparta, leaving her in Athens until she was old enough to marry. Pirithous chose a more dangerous prize: Persephone, wife of Hades. They travelled to the Underworld, where Hades pretended to offer them hospitality. As soon as they sat down, they were trapped by snakes or by the stone itself, which grew and attached to their thighs. Heracles freed Theseus, but the earth shook when he tried to liberate Pirithous. Pirithous had committed too great a crime in attempting to steal the wife of one of the great gods, and so he was left behind.

The rescue of Theseus and Pirithous was later portrayed humorously in Attic comedy, in which Heracles attempts to free them from the rock, succeeding only in freeing Theseus and leaving his buttocks attached to the rocks.

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