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CENTAURS
Κένταυροι

2105: Mosaic. Centaurs fighting with felines. Villa Hadriana in Tivoli, AD 118-138. Altes Museum, Berlin.

The CENTAURS were creatures living in the mountains of Thessaly that had the upper part of a human being and the lower part of a horse. The LAPITHS are a people from Thessaly, who became famous mainly because of their battle against the CENTAURS, during which they were assisted by Pirithous and his friend Theseus. Heracles 1 had several fights with the CENTAURS, and one of them, Nessus 2, caused his death.

Origin

Ixion fell in love with Hera and tried to rape her, but she reported his behavior to Zeus, who decided to test his wife's testimony. For this purpose, the god made a Cloud Resembling Hera (Nephele 1), and laid it beside Ixion. So when Ixion went around boasting that he had enjoyed Hera, Zeus bound him to a wheel, on which he is whirled by winds through the air. The cloud gave birth to Centaurus (Apd.Ep.1.20), and when he consorted with the Magnesian Mares, the CENTAURS were born (Pin.Pyth.2.44ff.). Diodorus 4.69.1 says, however, that Centaurus was son of Apollo and Stilbe, daughter of the river god Peneus (the Thessalian river flowing from the foot of Mount Pindus) and Creusa 3, a Naiad (Pin.Pyth.9.16; Dio.4.69.1). The CENTAURS thus were "like the mother below, the father above" (Pin.Pyth.2.48). Others say that the CENTAURS were born directly from the Cloud (Ov.Met.9.123, 12.210, 12.504; Dio.4.12.6, 4.69.5, 4.70.1), except Pholus 1 and Chiron (see list below).

Fight during a Wedding Party

When Pirithous, a son of Ixion, married Hippodamia 4, he invited the CENTAURS because they were her kinsmen. But the CENTAURS could not handle wine. They made themselves drunk by drinking without moderation, and when the bride was brought in, they attempted to rape her. As a result, a big battle took place, wich caused the death of many CENTAURS.

Transexual Caeneus 1

Among those who fought the CENTAURS at the wedding of Pirithous was Caeneus 1, who formerly had been a woman. As such she had intercourse with Poseidon, and afterwards asked the god to let her become an invulnerable man. So in the battle against the CENTAURS he did not have to care about wounds, but the CENTAURS surrounded him, and by striking him with fir trees buried him beneath the earth.

Fight for wine

When Heracles 1 was trying to catch the Erymanthian boar, he passed through Pholoe and was entertained by the Centaur Pholus 1, a son of Silenus by a Melian nymph. He set roast meat before Heracles 1, but himself ate his meat raw. When Heracles 1 called for wine, Pholus 1 said he feared to open the jar since it belonged to all CENTAURS in common. But as Heracles 1 insisted, he opened it, and very soon, scenting the smell, the CENTAURS came, armed with rocks and firs, to the cave of Pholus 1. There was a fight, and Heracles 1 killed some CENTAURS and pursued others.

Death of Chiron

Centaurs

Those CENTAURS who fled took refuge with the Centaur Chiron at Malea, where he lived after having being expelled from Mount Pelion by the LAPITHS. When Heracles 1 found them there, he started shooting, and during the battle he wounded Chiron unwillingly. Heracles 1 tried to remove the arrow, and applied a medicine that the same Chiron gave him. But the medicine was useless against the poison of the Hydra, in which Heracles 1 had dipped his arrows. Chiron wished to die, but being immortal, he could. So Prometheus 1 offered himself to Zeus to be immortal in his stead, and Chiron could die. Chiron was a gentle Centaur who once, when Peleus was caught by the CENTAURS, interceded and saved his life. Because of this slaughter, Heracles 1 could not be initiated at Eleusis before he was cleansed by Eumolpus, a son of Poseidon who had been thrown into the sea by his mother, Chione 1, but later rescued by Benthesicyme (Apd.2.5.12, 3.15.4).

Dispersion of the CENTAURS

The rest of the CENTAURS dispersed; some went to Mount Malea, others to Pholoe, still others to Eleusis where Poseidon hid them in a mountain. Pholus 1 died while manipulating the dangerous arrows of Heracles 1, and was buried by him.


Family 

Parentage (two versions)

Ixion & Nephele 1
 
 

Centaurus & Mares Magnesian

 

The particular parentage of some CENTAURS is indicated in the list below.
Some call Centaurus son of Ixion and Nephele 1, whereas others call him son of Apollo and Stilbe, daughter of the river god Peneus and the Naiad Creusa 3.

List of CENTAURS

Abas 4.
Attended Pirithous' wedding, fought against the LAPITHS and fled.
Ov.Met.12.306

Agrius 1.
Was repelled by Heracles 1 in a fight.
Apd.2.5.4.

Amphion 4.
Tried to plunder Pholus 1 of his wine and was killed by Heracles 1.
Dio.4.12.7.

Amycus 2.
Son of Ophion 2 (see below). He attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the LAPITHS. Was killed by Pelates 1.
Ov.Met.12.245.

Anchius.
Another Centaur, repelled by Heracles 1 when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus 1.
Apd.2.5.4.

Antimachus 4.
Attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the LAPITHS and was killed by Caeneus 1.
Ov.Met.12.459.

Aphareus 2.
Was killed by Theseus in the fight at Pirithous' wedding.
Ov.Met.12.341.

Aphidas 2.
Was killed by Phorbas 2 in the fight at Pirithous' wedding.
Ov.Met.12.317ff.

Arctus.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the LAPITHS.
Hes.SH.186.

Areos.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the LAPITHS.
Ov.Met.12.310.

Argius 4.
Another Centaur, killed by Heracles 1 when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus 1.
Dio.4.12.7.

Asbolus 1.
An augur who had attempted in vain to dissuade his friends from engaging in battle against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding.
Ov.Met.12.308; Hes.SH.185.

Bienor 1
Attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the LAPITHS and was killed by Theseus.
Ov.Met.345ff.

Bromus.
Attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the LAPITHS and was killed by Caeneus 1.
Ov.Met.12.459.

Centaurus.
Centaurus had intercourse with the Magnesian Mares and from this union the CENTAURS were born.

Parentage (two versions)

Ixion & Nephele 1

Apollo and Stilbe
Apd.Ep.1.20; Dio.4.69.1, 4.69.5, 4.70.1, 4.12.6; Ov.Met.12.210, 12.504; Pin.Pyth.2.21ff., 2.44ff.

Chiron.
The civilized Centaur. He had three daughters by Chariclo 2: Endeis, Melanippe 1 and Ocyrrhoe 2.

Parentage

Cronos & Philyra 1


Chromis 1.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the LAPITHS. Killed by Pirithous.
Ov.Met.12.333.

Chthonius 3.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the LAPITHS. Killed by Nestor.
Ov.Met.12.441.

Clanis 1.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the LAPITHS. Killed by Peleus.
Ov.Met.12.378; Val.1.146.

Crenaeus 1.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the LAPITHS. Killed by Dryas 2.
Ov.Met.12.310.

Cyllarus 1.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the LAPITHS. Killed by a javelin thrown from an unknown hand. He was married to Hylonome (see below).
Ov.Met.12.393ff.

Daphnis 3.
Another Centaur who tried to plunder Pholus 1 of his wine and was killed by Heracles 1.
Dio.4.12.7.

Demoleon 1.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the LAPITHS. Killed by Peleus.
Ov.Met.356ff.

Dictys 2.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the LAPITHS. Killed by Pirithous.
Ov.Met.12.334ff.

Dorylas 1.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the LAPITHS. Killed by Peleus.
Ov.Met.12.378.

Doupon.
Another Centaur who tried to plunder Pholus 1 of his wine and was killed by Heracles 1.
Dio.4.12.7.

Dryalus.
Son of Peuceus (see below). Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the LAPITHS.
Hes.SH.186.

Echeclus 1.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the LAPITHS. Killed by Ampyx 1.
Ov.Met.12.450.

Elatus 3.
Tried to plunder Pholus 1 of his wine. Heracles 1 shot an arrow at him, which, passing through his arm, stuck in the knee of Chiron.
Apd.2.5.4.

Elymus 1.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the LAPITHS. Killed by Caeneus 1.
Ov.Met.12.459.

Eurynomus 2.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Dryas 2.
Ov.Met.12.310.

Eurytion 3.
Acted in an insulting manner towards Hippolyte 4 when she was being joined in marriage to Azan or in the house of Pirithous (see also Eurytus 8). He was killed by Heracles 1.
Apd.2.5.4; Dio.4.33.1; Hom.Od.295ff.; Hyg.Fab.33.

Eurytus 8.
The wildest of the wild CENTAURS. He started the fight at Pirithous' wedding (See also Eurytion 3). Killed by Theseus.
Ov.Met.12.220, 12.235ff.

Gryneus.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Exadius.
Ov.Met.12.258ff.

Helops 1.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the LAPITHS. While fleeing from Pirithous fell from a precipice into the top of a tree and impaled his body.
Ov.Met.12.334ff.

Hippasus 4.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Theseus.
Ov.Met.352; Val.1.148.

Hippotion 2.
Another Centaur, killed by Heracles 1 when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus 1.
Dio.4.12.7.

Hodites 1.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Mopsus 1.
Ov.Met.12.456.

Homadus.
Also this Centaur tried to plunder Pholus 1 of his wine. Some time after he attempted to rape Alcyone 3, a granddaughter of Perseus 1. He got killed in Arcadia.
Dio.4.12.7.

Hylaeus 1.
This Centaur tried to rape Atalanta but was shot by her (same thing happened to Rhoecus).
Apd.3.9.2.

Hylaeus 3.
Killed by Heracles 1 under unknown circumstances.
Vir.Aen.8.294.

Hylaeus 4.
This Centaur followed Dionysus 2 in his Indian campaign and was killed by Orontes 2, an Indian General.
Nonn.17.200.

Hyles.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the LAPITHS. Killed by Peleus.
Ov.Met.12.378.

Hylonome.
Attended Pirithous' wedding together with her lover Cyllarus 1 (see above). Having seen Cyllarus 1 dead, she threw herself upon the spear which had killed him.
Ov.Met.12.405ff.

Imbreus.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Dryas 2.
Ov.Met.12.310.

Iphinous 1.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Peleus.
Ov.Met.12.378.

Isoples.
Another Centaur, killed by Heracles 1 when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus 1.
Dio.4.12.7.

Latreus.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Caeneus 1.
Ov.Met.12.463ff.

Lycabas 1.
Attended Pirithous' wedding, fought against the LAPITHS and fled.
Ov.Met.12.302.

Lycidas.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Dryas 2.
Ov.Met.12.310.

Lycopes.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Theseus.
Ov.Met.350.

Lycus 8.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Pirithous.
Ov.Met.12.332.

Medon 3.
Attended Pirithous' wedding, fought against the LAPITHS and fled.
Ov.Met.12.302.

Melanchaetes 2.
Another Centaur, killed by Heracles 1 when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus 1.
Dio.4.12.7.

Melaneus 1.
Attended Pirithous' wedding, fought against the LAPITHS and fled.
Ov.Met.12.306.

Mermerus 4.
Was wounded by the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding and fled.
Ov.Met.12.305.

Mimas 5.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the LAPITHS.
Hes.SH.186.

Monychus.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the LAPITHS. He was conquered by Nestor, mounted on his unwilling back.
Ov.Met.12.499ff.; Val.1.146.

Nedymnus.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Theseus.
Ov.Met.350.

Nessus 2.
A black Centaur. Fled during the fight with the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Later he attempted to rape Deianira 1 and before dying gave her a charm which resulted in the death of Heracles 1. He was killed by Heracles 1.
Apd.2.5.4, 2.7.6; Dio.4.36.3; Hyg.Fab.31; Soph.Tra.500ff.; Strab.10.2.5; Val.1.147.

Ophion 2.
Father of Amycus 2 (see above).
Ov.Met.12.245.

Orius 1.
Another Centaur, killed by Heracles 1 when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus 1.
Dio.4.12.3; Pau.3.18.16.

Orneus 2.
Attended Pirithous' wedding fought against the LAPITHS and fled.
Ov.Met.12.302; Pau.3.18.16.

Perimedes 5.
Son of Peuceus (see below). Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the LAPITHS.
Hes.SH.186.

Petraeus 1.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Pirithous.
Ov.Met.12.327.

Peuceus.
Father of Perimedes 5 and Dryalus (see above).
Hes.SH.186.

Phaecomes.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Nestor.
Ov.Met.12.431ff.

Phlegraeus 1.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Peleus.
Ov.Met.12.378.

Pholus 1.
He was more skilled in augury than other CENTAURS. He attended Pirithous' wedding and fled after the fight against the LAPITHS. The mountain Pholoe was named after him. He let fall one of the arrows of Heracles 1 on his foot and died (see also CONSTELLATIONS and SEERS).

Parentage

Silenus & Nymph 1
Apd.2.5.4; Dio.4.12.3, 4.12.6-8; Hyg.Ast.2.38; Ov.Met.12.306.

Phrixus 2.
Another Centaur, killed by Heracles 1 when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus 1.
Dio.4.12.7.

Pisenor 2.
Attended Pirithous' wedding, fought against the LAPITHS and fled.
Ov.Met.12.303.

Pylenor.
Having been wounded by Heracles 1 washed himself in the river Anigrus, thus providing the river with a peculiar odor.
Pau.5.5.10.

Pyracmus.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Caeneus 1.
Ov.Met.12.459.

Pyraethus.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Periphas 2.
Ov.Met.12.450.

Rhoecus.
He also tried to rape Atalanta and was killed by her (same thing happened to Hylaeus 1).
Apd.3.9.2.

Rhoetus 1.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Dryas 2.
Ov.Met.12.271,12.300; Val.3.65.

Ripheus 1.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Theseus.
Ov.Met.352.

Styphelus.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Caeneus 1.
Ov.Met.12.459.

Teleboas 2.
Fought against the LAPITHS at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Nestor.
Ov.Met.12.441.

Thaumas 2.
Attended Pirithous' wedding, fought against the LAPITHS and fled.
Ov.Met.12.303.

Thereus 1.
This Centaur used to catch bears and carry them home alive and struggling. Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the LAPITHS. Killed by Theseus.
Ov.Met.353.

Thereus 2.
Another Centaur, killed by Heracles 1 when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus 1.
Dio.4.12.7; Ov.Met.353.

Ureus.
Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the LAPITHS.
Hes.SH.186.


Related sections

Chiron, Heracles 1, Pirithous, Theseus
The CENTAURS in GROUPS: BESTIARY
Sources
Abbreviations

Apd.Ep.1.20; Dio.4.69.5, 4.70.1, 4.12.6; Hyg.Fab.33; Ov.Met.9.123, 12.210, 12.504; Pin.Pyth.2.20ff, 2.44ff.; Vir.Aen.8.293.