CHARACTER PROFILE
Gregorio Zeppeli
- Primary work
- Steel Ball Run
- Occupation
- Executioner | Doctor↗
Gregorio Zeppeli (グレゴリオ・ツェペリ, Guregorio Tseperi) is a tertiary character featured in the seventh part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, Steel Ball Run.
Gregorio is Gyro 's father and an executioner of the Kingdom of Naples.
Image attribution details
Gregorio Zeppeli. Source illustration via JoJoWiki; copyright remains with the original rights holders.
Image via JoJoWiki. Original franchise/production rights holders retain copyright; the wiki text CC BY-SA license does not license this image.
Original image ↗ · Archived image ↗01Basic information
02Appearance
Gregorio Zeppeli is a mature man, his face being noticeably wrinkled with a constantly serious and severe look to him. His most distinctive feature is his facial hair, consisting of a soul patch covering the space from the lips to the chin, and two symmetrical zigzagging stripes of hair along the cheeks connecting to the hair. Although Gregorio Zeppeli keeps short hair cut into a flattop, he has a ponytail too. The design of the beard changed during his life.↗
Gregorio is shown in different outfits. The first time he was clothed in a dark jacket and pants. He also adorned the executioner outfit of his country, and was also featured having a typical surgeon's outfit.↗
03Personality
Gregorio Zeppeli is a somber and serious man, whose loyalty lies in his king and his family.↗
Gregorio's life is centered around his responsibilities as patriarch of the Zeppeli Family, surgeon and executioner of the Kingdom of Naples, each of whom he takes extremely seriously and considers an honor to fulfill perfectly. Gregorio is loyal to his king, whom he considers a servant of God, and often thinks about how he and his son must best serve their country. Gregorio respects the letter of the law and considers that one must obey it, no matter the circumstance. Likewise, he doesn't like when one questions orders or even think about questioning it. Indeed, Gyro pictured his father scolding him for doing this and ordering him to return to Naples.↗
Gregorio thinks that, to best serve as an executioner, he must sever himself from sentimentality, believing that it leads to potential spiritual weaknesses. As such he took extreme measures in order to avoid cultivating particularly emotive memories: apart from his family, Gregorio has practically no social ties, doesn't participate in social events and makes it a point to be very cold and severe with his son Gyro, not even celebrating his son's graduation from school. On the other hand, he has never raised his voice against his son either.↗
04Abilities
Spin: Gregorio is a master of the Spin, having taught everything he knows to Gyro. He mainly uses the Spin to ease execution by manipulating the muscles of the condemned, letting them relax before he decapitates them.↗
Surgery: Alongside the Spin, Gregorio is a surgeon by trade. He thus knows the human body extremely well, which translates into his expertise in execution and the Spin, and is said to be able to perform difficult surgeries such as reconnecting the optical nerves to the brain.↗
05Story
SPOILERS
Gregorio was born into the prestigious and wealthy Zeppeli Family. He led a life devoid of sentimentality, deliberately avoiding social engagements and refraining from forming both friendships and rivalries. As the owner of a private clinic, Gregorio treated patients from all walks of life, both the wealthy and the impoverished. Once or twice a month, he was summoned by the king’s servants.↗↗↗
Gregorio began training his eldest son, Gyro, in the art of the Spin at the age of nine. When Gyro turned thirteen, Gregorio introduced him to the grim reality of their hereditary profession by bringing him to the royal prison, where he revealed his role as an executioner. He instructed Gyro in the use of Steel Balls, rigorously preparing him to become a skilled executioner.↗↗
Prior to Gyro's twenty-fifth birthday, an incident occurred during an execution where a condemned woman became violent and almost killed an executioner. The woman slammed Gyro against the wall but Gyro neutralized her. During the struggle, Gyro lost his gorget, a significant symbol of his position. Gregorio chastised him for his sentimentality, as he saw Gyro pensively gazing at the woman and an elderly prisoner in a cell.↗↗
A few days after the incident, Gyro encountered Marco, a young servant falsely accused and sentenced to death. Deeply disturbed by the injustice, and confronted with the fact that Marco would be his first execution, Gyro petitioned for the boy’s appeal. The protestation attracted widespread public attention and earned the disapproval of Gregorio, who condemned his son's emotional involvement.↗↗
At another point in time, Gregorio Zeppeli would be responsible with sentencing the royal guard Wekapipo following a politically sensitive duel between the latter and his sister’s abusive husband. Although Wekapipo’s actions could have warranted a death sentence, Gregorio instead chose to exile him to preserve the political balance of the court while sparing Wekapipo’s life.↗↗
After Oyecomova escaped from prison and killed a guard with explosive powder, Gregorio accepted responsibility for his subordinate's death and retired from his duties as an executioner.↗↗
Steel Ball Run
During the Steel Ball Run race, Gyro would often think back to his father's words. His influence to Gyro is evident in his decisions, particularly during Gyro's duel with Ringo Roadagain. Gyro imagines an illusion of his father ordering him to return to Naples immediately instead of using the Spin to save Johnny Joestar, as his sentimentality will become his vulnerability.↗↗
After Gyro's death, a revolution occurs in the Kingdom of Naples and the Zeppeli family leaves Naples. The rest of their fate is unknown.↗
06Plot details
SPOILERS
Profile details
Status: Alive (Part 7)↗
07Appearances
Steel Ball Run Chapter 20: Gyro Zeppeli's Destiny, Part 1 (Flashback)↗
Steel Ball Run Chapter 21: Gyro Zeppeli's Destiny, Part 2 (Flashback)↗
Steel Ball Run Chapter 22: The Terrorist from a Faraway Country, Part 1 (Mentioned) Mentioned only↗
Steel Ball Run Chapter 24: Interlude (Flashback)↗
Steel Ball Run Chapter 32: 3rd Stage Goal: Cañon City (Mentioned) Mentioned only↗
08Relationships
| Character | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gyro Zeppeli | Eldest Son | ↗ |
09Sources & attribution
- Gregorio Zeppeli
Source text: JoJoWiki and its contributors. This entry has been reorganized and condensed for readability under CC BY-SA 4.0. Archived records reflect their capture dates. Referenced manga, anime, and artwork retain their respective copyrights.
Source bibliography (7)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 21: Gyro Zeppeli's Destiny, Part 2 Open ↗
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 24: Interlude Open ↗
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 20: Gyro Zeppeli's Destiny, Part 1 Open ↗
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 21: Gyro Zeppeli's Destiny, Part 2 Open ↗
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 51: Wrecking Ball, Part 1 Open ↗
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 22: The Terrorist from a Faraway Country, Part 1 Open ↗
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 35: The World of Man, Part 3 Open ↗
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