Pirithous
heroKing of the Lapiths and best friend of Theseus who attempted to kidnap Persephone from the Underworld and was trapped forever.
The Myth
He tried to kidnap the Queen of the Dead — and got stuck in the Chair of Forgetfulness for eternity. Pirithous and Theseus made a pact to marry daughters of Zeus. Theseus chose Helen (who was twelve). Pirithous chose Persephone — wife of Hades. They descended to the Underworld and Hades, pretending to welcome them, offered seats. The chairs were the Chairs of Forgetfulness: they fused to the stone and could not stand. Heracles later freed Theseus during his twelfth labour, but when he tried to free Pirithous, the earth shook — the gods would not allow it. Pirithous remains in the Underworld eternally. His wedding to Hippodamia had already sparked the Centauromachy when the centaurs attacked.
Explore Further
Hippodamia of the Lapiths
heroLapith princess whose wedding to Pirithous was disrupted when centaurs attempted to abduct her,...
Ixion (Punishment)
heroFirst human murderer of kin, who attempted to seduce Hera and was bound to an eternally spinning...
Centauromachy
conceptThe Centauromachy was the famous battle between the Lapiths and the Centaurs at the wedding of...
Centauromachy (Event)
conceptThe battle between Lapiths and Centaurs at the wedding of Pirithous when drunken centaurs tried to...
Hades (God)
godHades was the lord of the underworld who received the dead — feared but not evil, wealthy from...
Helen
heroThe most beautiful woman in the world, daughter of Zeus. Her elopement with Paris of Troy triggered...
Helen of Troy
heroHelen was the most beautiful woman in the world, daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose abduction by...
Heracles
heroThe greatest hero of Greek mythology, son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. Famous for his...
Heracles (Labours)
heroHeracles performed twelve seemingly impossible labours as penance for killing his family in a...
Ixion
heroIxion was the first human to murder a kinsman and the first to attempt seduction of a goddess —...
Theseus
heroThe hero who navigated the Labyrinth, slew the Minotaur, and became the legendary king of Athens....
Theseus (Athenian)
heroTheseus was the great hero of Athens who slew the Minotaur, united Attica, and established Athenian...