Pirithous, Hippodamia & the Centaur Eurytion, Apulian red-figure krater C4th B.C., British Museum

EURYTION was the leader of the Thessalian Kentauroi (Centaurs) who was invited along with his brothers to wedding of the Lapith king Peirithoos. When he attempted to carry off the bride Hippodameia, and his fellows the other female guest, Eurytion was intercepted and slain by Theseus.

Incited by the wine of the wedding feast, the Kentauroi leader was appropriately named "of the fine drinking-horn", or "fine-flowing" from the Greek words eu "fine," and rhytos "drinking-horn" or "flowing."

The Arkadians had their own Eurytion, who like the Thessalian tried to take a wife by force.

Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 10. 8 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"[Amongst the scenes portrayed in relief on the pediment of the temple of Zeus at Olympia :] Carved on the pediment is the fight between the Lapithai and the Kentauroi at the marriage of Peirithoos. On one side of him is Eurytion, who has seized the wife of Peirithous, with Kaineus bringing help to Peirithoos."

Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 1. 10e (trans. Gullick) (Greek rhetorician C2nd to C3rd A.D.) :
"By way of denouncing drunkenness the poet [Homer] portrays the Kyklops [Polyphemos], for all his great size, as completely overcome, when drunk, by a small person; likewise the Kentauros Eurytion."

Ovid, Metamorphoses 12. 210 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"Ixion’s son [Peirithous] had wed Hippodame and called the Feri Nubigeni (Cloud-born Beasts) [the Kentauroi] to recline at tables ranged within a tree-clad cave. The Haemonii (lords of Thessaly) were there and I [Nestor] was there myself. The festive palace rang with the merry hubbub of the milling guests. And now the wedding hymn was sung, the fires smoked in the royal hall, in came the bride with wives and matrons walking at her side, supreme in beauty. Blessed indeed we called Pirithous with such a bride--and brought, nearly, thereby their wedded bliss to naught! For Eurytus, the fiercest of the fierce Centauri, was fired by wine and by the sight of that fair girl, and drink was in command, double by lust. Tables were overturned, the banquet in confusion, and the bride, held by her hair, was seized and carried off. Hippodame was seized by Eurytus; the others seized what girl each would or could. The scene was like a city sacked; the house echoed with women’s screams. At once we all sprang to our feet and Theseus shouted first `What madness, Eurytus, possesses you to provoke Pirithous while I’m alive--two men, you fool, in one!’ To back his words the great-souled prince, thrusting the throng aside, rescued the ravished girl from their wild rage. No answer came; for no words could defend such deeds. The dastard charged her champion, pummelled his noble chest and punched his chin. An antique wine-bowl chanced to stand near by, jagged with high relief; huge as it was, Aegides [Theseus] still huger lifted it and hurled it crashing on his foe. He vomited great gouts of blood with brains and wine from wound and throat, and falling backwards beat his heels upon the soaking sand. His death incensed his twiformed brothers and with one accord, each vying with the rest, `To arms, to arms!’ They shouted. Wine gave courage. In the first fighting goblets went flying and fragile jars and bowls and dishes meant for banqueting, now turned to war and carnage."

Propertius, Elegies 2. 33c (trans. Goold) (Roman elegy C1st B.C.) :
"You, too, centaurus Eurytion, were undone by wine."

O12.4 EURYTION, HIPPODAMEIA

Sources:

• Pausanias, Description of Greece - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.
• Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae - Greek Rhetoric C3rd A.D.
• Ovid, Metamorphoses - Latin Epic C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
• Propertius, Elegies - Latin Elegy C1st B.C.