Phlegyas

Phlegyas was a figure in Greek mythology, primarily known as the king of the Lapiths and the father of Ixion. His story is most famously recounted in Virgil's Aeneid, where he appears as a tormented soul in the Underworld. Phlegyas was often characterized by his impiety and his fiery temper. He was the son of Ares, the god of war, and a nymph. His reign as king of the Lapiths was marked by aggression and a disregard for the gods. According to some accounts, Phlegyas was responsible for burning down the temple of Apollo at Delphi, an act of sacrilege that earned him eternal punishment. In the Underworld, he is depicted as being eternally seated on a pyre, his flesh consumed by flames, forever in agony as a consequence of his transgressions against the divine. His name itself is associated with fire, reinforcing his association with this destructive element. The myth of Phlegyas serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris and disrespect towards the gods in ancient Greek culture.