Lăpĭthus

, a son of Apollo by Stilbe. He was brother to Centaur us, and married Orsinome daughter of Euronymus, by whom he had Phorbas and Periphas. The name of Lapithæ was given to the numerous children of Phorbas and Periphas, or rather to the inhabitants of the country, of which they had obtained the sovereignty. The chief of the Lapithæ a embled to celebrate the nuptials of Pirithous, one of their number, and among them were These us, Dryas, Hopleus, Mopsus, Phalerus, Exadius, Prolochus, Titaresius, . The Centaurs were also invited to partake the common festivity, and the amusements would have been harmle and innocent, had not one of the intoxicated Centaurs offered violence to Hippo dam i a the wife of Pirithous. The Lapithæ resented the injury, and the Centaurs supported their companions, upon which the quarrel became universal, and ended in blows and slaughter. Many of the Centaurs were slain, and they at last were obliged to retire. These us among the Lapithæ showed himself brave and intrepid in supporting the cause of his friends, and Nestor also was not le active in the protection of chastity and innocence. This quarrel arose from the resentment of Mars, whom Pirithous forgot or neglected to invite among the other gods at the celebration of his nuptials, and therefore the divinity punished the insult by sowing di ension among the festive a embly. See: Centaur i . Hesiod has described the battle of the Centaurs and Lapithæ, as also Ovid in a more copious manner. The invention of bits and bridles for horses is attributed to the Lapithæ. Virgil , Georgics , bk. 3 , li. 115 ; Æneid , bk. 6 , li. 601 ; bk. 7 , li. 305 .— Ovid , Metamorphoses , bk. 12 , li. 530 ; bk. 14 , li. 670 .— Hesiod , Shield of Heracles .— Diodorus , bk. 4 .— Pindar , bk. 2 , Pythian .— Strabo , bk. 9 .— Statius , Thebiad , bk. 7 , li. 304 .