Centaur 人马兽

Centaur 人马兽

I

n Greek mythology, a centaur or hippocentaur is a member of a composite race of creatures, part human and part horse. They have the body of a horse but they have the torso, head and arms of a man. The centaurs were born of Ixion and Nephele. Another version, however, makes them children of a certain Centaurus, who mated with the Magnesian mares (Mothers of the Centaurs) or of Apollo and Stilbe. In the later version of the story his twin brother was Lapithes, ancestor of the Lapiths, thus making the two warring peoples cousins. Centaurs were inhabited in the region of Magnesia and Mount Pelion in Thessaly, the Foloi oak forest in Elis, and the Malean peninsula in southern Laconia.

*Character:

Ixion was the son the Phlegyas, descendent (后裔) of Ares, and king of the Lapiths in Thessaly.

Nephele was the clone of Hera.

Hera was the wife of Zeus.

Zeus was the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods.

Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto. He was the God of Music, God of Light (known as Phoebus) and God of Plague.

Stilbe was the daughter of the river God Peneus.

Centauromachy

The Centaurs are best known for their fight with the Lapiths. The cause of their battle was the Centaurs attempt to abduct the bride and the rest of Lapith women, on the wedding of their king Pirithous. King Peirithous of the Lapiths inherited part of Thessaly from his father Ixion. The Centaurs as grandsons of Ixion claimed they were entitled to part of the land. After a first round of fighting a peace was arranged. Pirithous invited the Centaurs to his wedding. Here the Centaurs became drunk, then violent. This battle was lead by Eurytion. The ensuing battle results in the complete destruction of the Centaurs. Theseus, a hero and founder of cities assisted Pirithous in the battle. The Centaurs defend themselves with rocks and branches of trees. The Centaurs were driven off or destroyed. Centaurs are thought of in many Greek Myths as wild as untamed horses. The picture on the right side shows the Eurytion of Centaurs.

  

Female centaurs

The Kentaurides or Centaurides were female members of the Centaur tribe, creatures with the twyformed bodies of horses and men.

Ovid, Metamorphoses 12. 210 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"[During the battle between the Centaurs and the Lapiths of Thessaly:] Nor did his beauty ransom [the centaur] Cyllarus, fighting that day, if hybrids such as he be granted beauty. His beard was just beginning, a golden beard, and golden tresses fell down on his shoulders reaching to his flanks. Many a centauress would be his mate, but one had gained his heart, Hylonome. In the high woods there was none comelier of all the centaur-girls, and she alone by love and love's sweet words and winning ways held Cyllarus, yes, and the care she took to look her best. She combed her glossy hair, and twined her curls in turn with rosemary or violets or roses, and sometimes she wore a pure white lily. Twice a day she bathed her face in the clear brook that fell from Pagasae's high forest, twice she plunged her body in its flow, nor would she wear on her left side and shoulder any skin but what became her from best-chosen beasts. Their love was equal; on the hills they roamed together, and together they would go back to their cave; and this time too they went into the Lapithae's palace side by side and side by side were fighting in the fray. A javelin (no knowing from whose hand) came from the left and wounded Cyllarus, landing below the place where the chest joins neck--slight wound, but when the point was pulled away, cold grew his damaged heart and cold his limbs. Hylonome embraced him as he died, caressed the wound and, putting lips to lips, she tried to stay his spirit as it fled. And when she saw him lifeless, she moaned words that in that uproar failed to reach my ears; and fell upon the spear that pierced her love, and, dying, held her husband in her arms."

Chiron

Most of the Centaurs are wild and savage, known for lustfulness and drunkenness. The exception is the wise Centaur Chiron.

Chiron was known for his exceptional goodness and wisdom. He was the only immortal centaur. He became the tutor for a number of famous Greek heroes including: Achilles, Asclepius, Actaeon. Despite his immortality he was to end up dying. Heracles stopped to visit Pholus . Heracles was thirsty and persuaded Pholus to open a jar of wine that was the common property of the centaurs. The other centaurs smelled the wine and came running. A fight broke out between Heracles and the centaurs. Chiron took no part in the fight but, was accidentally wounded by Heracles. As an immortal, Chiron could not die but lived in terrible pain.

Chiron then chose to trade his life for the release of Prometheus. He may be the Centaur represented in the constellation Centaurus.

Heracles is best known as the strongest of all mortals. Stronger than many gods. He was the last mortal son of Zeus. He is the only man born of mortal woman to become a god upon his death.

Pholus was a wise centaur and friend of Heracles.

Prometheus was the wisest Titan. His name means “forethought” and he was able to foretell the future.

Pholus

A civilized Centaur Pholus invited Heracles to be his guest. However, the wine he used to entertain Heracles drew the other Centaurs and a fight resulted. After the fight Pholus accidently dropped one of Heracles poisoned arrows on his foot and died as a result. Some claim that Pholus is the individual represented in the constellation Centaurus.

Nessus        

Nessus was driven from his home in Arcadia by Heracles. He established himself as a ferryman on the river Evenus. He even claimed to be appointed to the task by the gods because of his good character. Years later he had the task of ferrying Heracles bride Deianeira while Heracles crossed on his own. Nessus took advantage of the situation to try to rape Deianeira. Heracles prevented this by shooting him with a poison arrow. As he was dying he persuaded Deianeira that a love charm made from his blood would insure Heracles faithfulness. In fact, he knew this charm to be poisonous. Ultimately it was this charm that killed Heracles.

The abduction of Deianeira

Rhoecus

Along with Hylaeus, he attempted to rape Atalanta , who was able to kill him with a single arrow.

Hylaeus

Along with Rhoecus, he attempted to rape Atalanta , who was able to kill him with a single arrow.