when idas, son of aphareus, came from messenia to asked for the hand of marpessa, evenus refused his request because he wanted her daughter to remain a virgin. idas went to his father poseidon and begged for the use of a winged chariot. poseidon consented him the use of the chariot, and idas abducted marpessa away from a band of dancers and fled from pleuron in aetolia. evenus, after chasing the couple for a long time and realizing he could not catch up to them, killed his horses and then drowned himself in a nearby river lycormas and became immortal. the river was named later after him.