Pirithous

The legendary king of the Lapithae in Thessaly near Mount Pelion.

The life and death of Pirithous is closely tied to the exploits of the legendary Athenian king, Theseus; Pirithous had heard of the reputation of Theseus and was compelled to test him; Pirithous stole some of Theseus’ cattle from the plain of Marathon and when Theseus came after him, Pirithous did not try to escape but rather stood his ground and faced the hero; the two men were impressed with each other and, instead of fighting, Pirithous extended his hand in friendship and swore that he would accept any punishment that Theseus deemed appropriate; Theseus opted for forgiveness instead of punishment and the two men sealed their friendship with an oath.

Pirithous invited Theseus to a wedding feast and, one way or another, the two men led the Lapithae in a war against the Centaurs; there are at least two versions of how the Centaurs disrupted the wedding feast:

1. The wedding was for Pirithous and Diedamia and the Centaurs were invited guests; the Centaurs became intoxicated and began to harass the Lapithae women; or
2. The wedding was for Pirithous’ daughter, Hippodamia, and the neighboring Centaurs raided the festivities and tried to kidnap Hippodamia.

Regardless of the motivation, Pirithous, Theseus and the Lapithae men began to fight with the Centaurs and a bitter war ensued; the Lapithae eventually drove the Centaurs from the area of Mount Pelion.

Pirithous and Theseus were responsible for the kidnapping of Helen when she was a young girl; while in the city of Sparta, the two men saw Helen dancing in the temple of the goddess Artemis; they were captivated by her childlike beauty and took the girl; after they had successfully escaped their pursuers, the two villains drew lots to see who would be allowed to marry Helen; the winner would help the loser find a wife; Theseus won the draw and his plan was to hide Helen with his mother until she was of marrying age.

Pirithous and Theseus went to the town of Aphidnus where they planned to kidnap the daughter of Aidoneus, Kore (Core); when Aidoneus realized what the two plotters were planning, he turned his dog loose on Pirithous; in this way, a man of renown and responsibility, died the death of a scoundrel.

His name may also be rendered as Pereithoos.