There are many stories that deal with the origin and history of centaurs in Greek mythology, although little has been done to verify any. They are fantastic beings that played a fundamental role in the history of the ancient Greeks. However, those who were good and civilized were counted on the fingers of their hands.
Greek mythology is full of remarkable beings that have come down to our days populating art, cinema or novels. Harry Potter readers meet many of these magnificent beings through their adventures: the unicorns, the gatekeeper, the basilisk, the giants, and the centaurs who live in the Forbidden Forest. What do you know about these extraordinary beings? Join us in Supercurioso to meet the centaurs of Greek mythology, the violent horsemen.
How are centaurs in Greek mythology?
Centaurs are mythological creatures that share human and equine features in their bodies. The head and torso are of a man, while the lower section of the body and the legs are of a horse. Scholars do not agree on the etymology of the word “centaur” which can mean so much “bull killer” What “a hundred strong”
1. About its nature
Indomitable in nature, the violence of many of them seems to stem from the fact that they are trapped between the two natures, the human and the equine. In which the second, irrational, is victorious on many occasions. Well, in most Greek myths, they are wild beings who do not abide by laws or respect hospitality, being generally subject to animal passions.
The history of the centaurs tells us that they are famous for their ability to control different types of weapons, among which the spear and the bow stand out. They also have a great dexterity to handle the shield and club. To this His incredible strength from his animal part is added.
Female centaurs are known as “centaurids” and we only find them in the Greek mythology of the last age. A Greek author, seeing a painting in which they were represented, wrote: “How beautiful are the centaurids, even though they have the body of a mare.”
2. Where did they live?
In the story of the centaurs, it is said that they were beings who lived in harmony with nature. That means that they only dedicated themselves to hunting what was necessary for their fullness. They inhabited mostly in the surrounding forests of the Mount Pelion and Thessalea. They also had the characteristic of being friendly with other species and races that were in the same place. In spite of everything, it was never possible to define if this species was consolidated as a people, a group or a tribe.
What is the history of centaurs?
There are many stories about the origin of centaurs, but only two are the most accurate and popularly known. Let’s see what they are:
1. Ixion and his betrayal of Zeus
The first version narrates that the centaurs had a father named Ixion, who was also the son of Ares. One day, Ixion killed his mother-in-law, but luckily Zeus had mercy on him and forgave his actions after a while.
Nevertheless, the father of the gods put it to the test by creating a replica of Hera, his wife, whom he named Nefele and sent to Ixion. Zeus managed to trick Ixion, who tried to seduce the woman and had intercourse with her. The result of this crossing was the monstrous beings that were nicknamed centaurs.
Ixion, due to his betrayal, was sentenced to eternal punishment in Tantalus. Centauro, upon reaching adulthood, joined the mares of Magnesia and he spawned the race of centaurs, who are also called Ixions.
2. Chronos’ infidelity
The other story tells how Chronos, the god of time, he transformed into a horse to prevent his wife Rhea from knowing it was him. This with the aim of seducing the oceanid beauty Filira, to whom he professed a deep love.
However, Rhea finds out and the lover flees to the mountains to conceive of a totally deformed being, with human features from the waist up, nothing more. At this, Filira falls into despair and in an act of madness asks the gods to turn her into a linden plant.
The little centaur would be orphaned, but would later be taken in by the gods of Olympus. During his stay, they give him a series of abilities, such as music and the ability to heal animals, which It will allow him to develop as a benevolent and intelligent being who would later be a great teacher.
He would be known as Chiron, the first centaur, who had several outstanding students. One of the most popular is Achilles, the main character of the Homer’s Iliad. He would also host Heracles (Hercules), a Greek hero famous for having unparalleled strength, which would allow him to fulfill the twelve tasks consigned as penance by the Oracle of Delphi.
Myths of the centaurs, the horsemen
centaurs They are mythological creatures that appear in many Greek stories. We have chosen some of the most significant.
1. Chiron, the most famous of the centaurs in Greek mythology
Chiron is the most famous of the horsemen, but he belongs to a different lineage. He was born when Cronus had relations with the Oceanid Philira, this was turned into a horse so that his wife Rea would not discover it.
Chiron is therefore a peaceful centaur, of great intelligence, a wise and learned man who devoted himself fundamentally to medicine and the work of educator of heroes. He himself was educated by Artemis and Apollo.
He taught his pupils the art of hunting, music, morals, medicine and surgery. among his disciples Asclepius, Peleus, Nestor, Jason, Plaster, Hippolytus, Castor, Pollux, Antilochus, Aeneas and especially Achilles stand out.
Some versions of the Chiron myth state that Heracles was also his disciple. Unfortunately, they also attribute the death of the centaur to the God, since he was mistakenly hit by a hero’s arrow impregnated with the hydra’s poison. Chiron, who was immortal, to stop suffering from his wound, gave his immortality to Perseus. It rose to the heavens to become the constellation Sagittarius.
2. Pholos, another of the good horsemen
Pholos was also one of the creatures of Greek mythology most famous for its good nature. He was a great friend and ally of Heracles, allowing him to stay with him and giving him a great feast. The great hero asked for wine and Pholos opened the container with the best harvest to give him. Unfortunately, other centaurs scented and attacked the cave where the two men were feasting. The fight was savage and both centaurs and men were badly injured.
It should be noted that centaurs in Greek mythology had a bad reputation due to his fanaticism for wine. They loved it so much that they consumed it in droves, but they became uncivilized beings, with great aggressiveness and hunger for a fight wherever they were.
3. Centauromachy
Centaruomachy is known as the fight between the centaurs and the lapitas. On the occasion of the wedding of Pirithous, king of the Lapitas and grandson of Ixion, the centaurs attended the ceremony and they tried to kidnap Pirithous’s girlfriend and as many Lapith women as they could. Theseus, who was present at the event, sided with the humans against the centaurs, tipping the scales in favor of the Lapiths.
It is considered that this battle actually represents the struggle between civilization and barbarism. The first represented by men and the second by centaurs who allow themselves to be defeated by their animal half. A part of the friezes of the Parthenon represent the Centauromachy, as well as a famous sculpture by Michelangelo.
Variants of centaurs in Greek mythology
The human imagination has recreated the figure of the centaurs to obtain other similar fantastic beings that are considered to belong to the same family:
1. Onocentaurs
The onocentaur is a mythological creature that comes from the centaur. He is a hybrid of human and donkey. It symbolizes male lust and is often represented with two tongues.
2. Ictocentaurs
The ichtocentaur is another creature that belongs to the Centaurian macrofamily. It lives in the aquatic environment and his body is the same as that of the centaur, but ends with the tail of a fish.
3. Bucentaurs
This being does not come to us from Greece, but originated in the Middle Ages. The body is that of a man, however, the lower section is that of a bull or buffalo.
Other Creatures of Greek Mythology
Did you already know the story of centaurs in Greek mythology? What other myths do you know about other fantastic beings? Here we leave you a list of mythological creatures that you should know.
With this we conclude our entry on the fantastic history of the Centaurs. Thank you for reading and do not forget to leave us all your comments. We will be happy to read you 🙂