Gregorio Zeppeli
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.
Appearance
Gregorio Zeppeli is a mature Italian 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.
Color Schemes
Personality
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 also considers that one must honor his ancestors.

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. Wanting to impart this philosophy, Gregorio often tells Gyro that the Zeppeli family was in the hands of the monarchy, and that it was not in the position of the monarch's subordinates to be sentimental. Likewise, Gregorio approaches his work coldly, and doesn't make a difference between criminals and the innocent, as long as they are sentenced to death.
Stating that true happiness lies in the family, Gregorio believes that protecting and honoring one's family is one's true obligation. He has taught his eldest son Gyro everything he knows, wishing to impart all of his family's traditions and honor his ancestors' work. He taught him everything about medicine, the Spin and how to become an executioner. He also imparted some of his mindset on his son, such as his belief in miracles.
However, Gregorio was shown to be benevolent at heart. For instance, he hid Wekapipo's sister in the countryside after Wekapipo was exiled to protect her. He was also keeping her blind so that her husband would stop thinking about her.
Abilities
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.
History

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.[2] 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. On those mornings, he would have a simple meal prepared by Gyro’s mother, consisting of fish, bread, and wine.[3]
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. In pre-20th century Europe, executioners notably held government-regulated positions that were hereditary, well-compensated, and prestigious. As a member of the Zeppeli family, Gregorio was also expected to master both medical science and martial arts and pass them onto Gyro.[3]

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.[2]
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. Defying his father’s expectations, Gyro ultimately decided to enter the Steel Ball Run race in hopes to win and secure amnesty for Marco.[4]

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. Later, after Gyro's failed surgery resulted in Wekapipo's sister's permanent blindness, Gregorio would arrange for her secret relocation to the countryside.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7]
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.
Chapters / Episodes

- Steel Ball Run Chapter 20: Gyro Zeppeli's Mission, Part 1 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 21: Gyro Zeppeli's Mission, Part 2 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 22: The Terrorist from a Faraway Country, Part 1 (Mentioned)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 24: Interlude (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 32: 3rd Stage Goal: Cañon City (Mentioned)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 34: The World of Man, Part 2 (Mentioned)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 35: The World of Man, Part 3 (Illusion)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 43: Silent Way, Part 4 (Mentioned)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 45: The Promised Land: Sugar Mountain, Part 1 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 48: Tubular Bells, Part 1 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 51: Wrecking Ball, Part 1 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 52: Wrecking Ball, Part 2 (Mentioned)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 53: Wrecking Ball, Part 3 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 54: Wrecking Ball, Part 4 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 57: Civil War, Part 2 (Mentioned)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 62: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Mentioned)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 69: D4C, Part 4 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 70: D4C, Part 5 (Mentioned)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 76: D4C, Part 9 (Mentioned)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 84: Ball Breaker, Part 2 (Flashback)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 90: High Voltage, Part 1 (Mentioned)
- Steel Ball Run Chapter 95: The World of Stars and Stripes - Outro (Mentioned)

- Steel Ball Run Episode TBA: TBA
Quotes

- “Every man needs a map... a map in his heart to ride across the wilderness.”—Gregorio Zeppeli, Steel Ball Run Chapter 20: Gyro Zeppeli's Mission, Part 1
- “True happiness is found within the family. Protecting your family relates to protecting your country. For your family to fall apart is to scorn your ancestors and futures descendants. Never forget that.”—Gregorio Zeppeli, Steel Ball Run Chapter 20: Gyro Zeppeli's Mission, Part 1
- “A heart full of sentimentality is dangerous… it can set your future to eternal misery…!”—Gregorio Zeppeli, Steel Ball Run Chapter 24: Interlude
- “Listen, Gyro… during the sport of tennis, there may be a time when the ball hits the net. Which side of the net will the ball fall on…? That is something that no one can know. That is in the realm of God.”—Gregorio Zeppeli, Steel Ball Run Chapter 48 : Tubular Bells, Part 1
Gallery
References
- ↑ JoJonium Volume 2 (Will Anthonio Zeppeli) - Special Interview
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Steel Ball Run Chapter 24: Interlude
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Steel Ball Run Chapter 20: Gyro Zeppeli's Mission, Part 1
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 21: Gyro Zeppeli's Mission, Part 2
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 51: Wrecking Ball, Part 1
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 22: The Terrorist from a Faraway Country, Part 1
- ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 35: The World of Man, Part 3