LAPITHS

[Greek heroic] A fierce people of Thessaly, known for the battle with the Centaurs on the wedding of their king Pirithous. During that occasion, the Centaurs attempted to abduct the bride. The ensuing battle resulted in the complete destruction of the Centaurs. The battle of the Centaurs and the Lapiths was a subject that was used repeatedly in ancient art. A fresco in Pompeii depicts the Pirithous receiving the Centaurs; a famous François vase depicts the Lapiths, armed with lances, fighting against the Centaurs, who defend themselves with rocks and branches; of the sculptures that depict the battle, the most famous are those on the west wing of the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, and the metopes of the Parthenon.