Pirithous’s Family Tree

About Pirithous →

Family

• Dia(parent),Ixion(parent)— Marriage

  Ixion and Dia are the parents of Pirithous, the Lapith king and companion of Theseus.

  ⚠ Homer (Iliad 2.741, 14.317-318) names Zeus as Pirithous's true father, implying a divine union with Dia rather than mortal conception by Ixion.

Allied with

• Caeneus

  Caeneus fought alongside Pirithous at the Centauromachy, defending the wedding feast from the drunken centaurs. Both were Lapith warriors of renown.

• Theseus

  Pirithous and Theseus became inseparable companions after testing each other in battle. Together they abducted Helen and descended to the underworld to seize Persephone.

Enemy of

• Centaurs,Lapiths,Theseus

  The Centaurs attacked the Lapiths at Pirithous's wedding to Hippodamia, driven to frenzy by wine and attempting to carry off the women. Theseus fought alongside his friend Pirithous and the Lapiths to drive them off in the bloody Centauromachy.

• Hades,Theseus

  Hades trapped Theseus and Pirithous in the Chairs of Forgetfulness after they descended to the underworld to abduct Persephone. Heracles later freed Theseus, but Pirithous remained bound forever.

• Persephone

  Pirithous descended to the underworld with Theseus to abduct Persephone as his bride. Hades trapped both heroes in the Chairs of Forgetfulness; only Theseus was later freed by Heracles.

Rules over

• Lapiths

  Pirithous ruled the Lapiths as their king, succeeding his father Ixion. Under his leadership the Lapiths fought and defeated the Centaurs at his wedding feast.

Associated with

• Calydonian Boar

  Pirithous joined the Calydonian Boar Hunt alongside his companion Theseus, adding the king of the Lapiths to the gathering of heroes.

• Heracles

  When Heracles descended to the underworld to capture Cerberus, he found Pirithous and Theseus trapped in the Chairs of Forgetfulness. He freed Theseus but could not rescue Pirithous, as the earth shook in protest.