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Battle of Centaur and Lapith large plaque Sculpture
In Greek mythology, the Lapiths were a semi-legendary, semi-historical race, whose home was in Thessaly in the valley of the Peneus. Like the Myrmidons and other Thessalian tribes, the Lapiths were pre-Hellenic in their origins.
The genealogies make them a kindred race with the Centaurs, their king Pirithous being the son, and the Centaurs the grandsons of Ixion.
The best-known legend with which the Lapiths are connected is their battle with the Centaurs at the wedding feast of Pirithous. The Centaurs had been invited, but, unused to wine, their wild nature came to the fore. When the bride was presented to greet the guests, the centaur Eurytion leapt up and attempted to rape her. All the other centaurs were up in a moment, straddling women and boys. In the battle that ensued, Theseus came to the Lapiths' aid. They cut off Eurytion's ears and nose and threw him out. In the battle the Lapith C�neus was killed, and the defeated Lapiths were expelled from Thessaly to the northwest.
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