Overview
In Greek mythology, Marpessa (, "the robbed one") was an Aetolian princess and a granddaughter of Ares.
Family
Marpessa was the daughter of King Evenus of Aetolia (son of Ares either by Demonice or Sterope) and princess Alcippe (daughter of King Oenomaus of Pisa). She attracted the attention of the hero Idas as well as the god Apollo. Marpessa eventually married Idas, by whom she begot Cleopatra, the future wife of the hero Meleager.
Mythology
Marpessa was a beautiful lady, described as being "fair-ankled". Idas, son of King Aphareus, came from Messenia to ask for the hand of Marpessa, but Evenus refused his request because he wanted his daughter to remain a virgin. Idas went to his father Poseidon and begged for the use of a winged chariot. After Poseidon consented to his use of the chariot, Idas kidnapped Marpessa and carried her away from a band of dancers and to Pleuron in Aetolia. Her father, after chasing the couple for a long time, realized that he could not catch up to them. In his madness, he killed his horses and then drowned himself in a nearby river Lycormas and became immortal. The river was named later after him.
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