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Ixion

By Jusepe de Ribera - http://www.museodelprado.es/coleccion/galeria-on-line/galeria-on-line/zoom/1/obra/ixion-1/oimg/0/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1180932, Ixion
By Jusepe de Ribera – http://www.museodelprado.es/coleccion/galeria-on-line/galeria-on-line/zoom/1/obra/ixion-1/oimg/0/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1180932

Ixion was king of the Lapiths, the most ancient tribe of Thessaly, and a son of Ares.

  • Gender – Male
  • Race – Human/Demi God
  • Occupation – King
  • Religion – Hellenic Pantheon
  • Allies – 
  • Enemies – 
  • Abode/ Base of operations –
  • Nationality –
  • Languages –
  • Alignment – Chaotic Evil
  • Affiliation (s) –
  • Significant others – 

Ixion married Dia, a daughter of Deioneus and promised his father-in-law a valuable present. However, he did not pay the bride price, so Deioneus stole some of Ixion’s horses in retaliation. Ixion concealed his resentment and invited his father-in-law to a feast at Larissa. When Deioneus arrived, Ixion pushed him into a bed of burning coals and wood.

Ixion went mad, defiled by his act; the neighboring princes were so offended by this act of treachery and violation of xenia that they refused to perform the rituals that would cleanse Ixion of his guilt. Thereafter, Ixion lived as an outlaw and shunned.

However, Zeus had pity on Ixion and brought him to Olympus and introduced him at the table of the gods. Instead of being grateful, Ixion grew lustful for Hera, a further violation of guest-host relations. Zeus found out about his intentions and made a cloud in the shape of Hera, which became known as Nephele, and tricked Ixion into coupling with it. From the union of Ixion and the false-Hera cloud came Centauros, who covered the Magnesian mares on Mount Pelion (Pindar), engendering the race of Centaurs.

Ixion was expelled from Olympus and blasted with a thunderbolt. Zeus ordered Hermes to bind Ixion to a winged fiery wheel that was always spinning; only when Orpheus played his lyre did it stop for a while. Therefore, Ixion is bound to a burning wheel for all eternity, spinning in Tartarus.

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