Centaur

a fabulous creature in Greek mythology. The Centaurs of ancient myths must be distinguished from the later representation of double-bodied monsters. The former were a wild Thessalian nation inhabiting the woods and mountains. They were still more rough and barbarous than the Lapithae, with whom they often fought, and by whom they were finally driven from their native region. Their hunting on horses may have been the occasion of the famous representation of them as a horse and man. These Centaurs were also said to have had a forefather, Centaurus, who sprang from the embrace of Nephele, by Ixion. The combats of the, Centaurs with Hercules and Pirithous are especially famous. The Centaur Pholus had received from Bacchus a barrel of costly wine, which Hercules opened on his journey against the Erymanthian boar, whereupon the scent of the wine tempted the Centaurs to come and not only to drink the wine, but also to kill the stranger. Hence Hercules fought a frightful combat with them, which Nephele made still more severe, causing a rain to fall, whereby the ground became so slippery that Hercules was hardly able to stand. However, he was victorious, as most of the Centaurs fell by his weapons; among the killed were also his host, Pholus, and Chiron; The second combat occurred at the wedding of Pirithous, and was between the Lapithae and the Centaurs. This fight ended in the extermination of the latter; a few who escaped to the island of the Sirens died of hunger. The Centaurs were a favorite subject of art among the Greeks.