Where did the name "Ixion" come from?

Long, long ago, even before the emergence of the first robotic liquid handling robot, Ixion, son of Phlegyas, married, but failed to pay his father-in-law, Deioneus, for his bride.

Needless to say, as suppliers nowadays, Deioneus chased Ixion for payment. In order to come to a settlement, Ixion invited Deioneus to his house, where he had laid a trap.

Poor Deioneus arrived for a nice dinner, but even before the aperitif he fell into the pit filled with burning coals that Ixion had camouflaged.

This was the first such crime, and Ixion was sent to wander in exile.

But Zeus, father of all the Gods, took pity on him and decided not only to forgive Ixion, but to invite him to his home (Olympus) as a guest.

There, Ixion fell in love with Hera, Zeus’ wife, and decided he must have her. But Zeus had good friends who warned him of Ixion's intentions.

Zeus was a trusting old God, and did not believe them, but decided to check it out anyway. He made an image of Hera from clouds, and put the resulting cloud-doll in Hera's bed.

Ixion had had a few drinks by then, and did not notice that the love of his life was part (if not all) cumulus.

Zeus caught Ixion in the throes of passion in the clouds (maybe the first mile high club member?), and was somewhat upset.

To punish him, Zeus bound Ixion to a winged wheel, which revolved in the air in all directions. So Ixion spun off into the skies, turning for ever and ever, with little need for preventive maintenance and certainly no downtime…

So now you know.