Zeppeli Family

"This is the Zeppeli Family Spirit, from the past to the future! It's the human spirit!"

- Caesar Zeppeli,

The Zeppeli Family (ツェペリ家) is a recurring family of native Italians, whose members are featured in Phantom Blood, Battle Tendency, and Steel Ball Run. Allied to the Joestar Family and fighting for the side of good, the Zeppeli are tied to the Ripple and the Spin.

Zeppeli Family
The Zeppeli family is introduced in Phantom Blood with their history being deeply connected to the Stone Mask. A young Will Anthonio Zeppeli unearths the Stone Mask while he is among his father's archaeological research group in Mexico. Will suffers from the Stone Mask's potential of carnage firsthand when his father activates the mask and kills his entire crew aside from his son, before dying in the sunlight. The same Stone Mask then goes on to be used by Dio Brando. Chasing after the Stone Mask and wishing to destroy the monsters it creates, Will learns the Ripple in Tibet under the tutelage of Tonpetty. Hearing that the Stone Mask was in the Joestar Mansion, Will then allies with Jonathan Joestar, becoming his mentor in the ways of the Ripple. Will makes a great contribution to the fight against the Stone Mask's monsters. His legacy is continued by two of his descendants, his son Mario Zeppeli and then grandson Caesar Zeppeli. Mario collaborates with Ripple masters such as Straizo and Lisa Lisa. Caesar inherits the ability to use the Ripple and enhances his skills by training with Lisa Lisa, Loggins, and Messina. He also befriends Jonathan's grandson, Joseph Joestar.

Not much is known about the Zeppeli family. During Will's generation, the Zeppeli were scholars but after Caesar and his siblings were abused by relatives, they fell on hard times. Caesar is known to have been raised in Rome.

After the menace of the Stone Mask and the Pillar Men are neutralized, the remaining members of the Zeppeli family do not join the subsequent adventures of the Joestars.

Zeppeli Family (Second Continuity)
In Steel Ball Run, the Zeppeli are reintroduced as a well-off and respected family of Neapolitan doctors and executioners connected to Naples' court. Moreover, the Zeppeli now have a tradition of practicing the mystical art of the Spin for generations, which combined with their study of human anatomy, has elevated their practice of medicine and execution to a high level.

Against the wishes of his father Gregorio Zeppeli, Julius Caesar "Gyro" Zeppeli participates in the Steel Ball Run race to acquire glory and acquit a young boy. On the way, Gyro befriends Johnny Joestar and teaches him the Spin.

After Naples transitions into a republic and overthrows the king, the Zeppeli family are said to have moved to an unknown country, and their whereabouts are unknown.

Trivia

 * The Zeppeli Family is named after, an English rock band.
 * It is a recurring theme that a Zeppeli will sacrifice themselves to further their cause, usually while directly assisting a Joestar by giving them their power and knowledge.