24 Ixion

In Thessaly there once lived a king by the name of Ixion．He was both handsome and mighty．He went to woo the beautiful maiden Dia and won her love，but her old father was most reluctant to part with his child．only when Ixionswore to let him have his royal treasure house did the father agree to give the king the hand of Dia in marriage ．Ixion took Dia home with him．But he was in no mood to keep his promise，for a long time passed and no treasure ever came to the old man．Impatient to have his promised wealth，the old father went to seeIxion and gave him no peace，until at last Ixion decided to get ridof him once and for all ．Opening the door of his treasurehouse，he pushed the old man in and there burnt him to death．

Zeus was furious over the terrible deed．The frightened Ixion went up to heaven and asked the father of gods and men torid him of his dishonesty ．His prayers were granted，and hestayed happily for a while in the glorious home of t...