Centaurs
The Centaurs embodied civilisation vs savage nature.
The Myth of Centaurs
Centaurs were wild horse-men born from Ixion's union with a cloud shaped like Hera, dwelling in the forests of Thessaly near Olympus. They clashed violently with the Lapiths at the wedding of Pirithous — a battle known as the Centauromachy, depicted on the Parthenon in Athens. Most were savage, but two stood apart: Chiron, the wise teacher of Heracles, Achilles, and Asclepius; and Pholus, the gentle host who died accidentally during Heracles' fourth labour. Theseus and the Lapiths eventually drove the Centaurs from Thessaly. Heracles encountered them repeatedly during his labours, and their image became a symbol of the conflict between civilisation and barbarism throughout Greek art.
Parents
Ixion and Nephele
Children
Varied
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Parthenon Centauromachy symbolised Athens' victory over Persia.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Centaurs
🐉 creatureHalf-human, half-horse beings
A race of beings with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse. Most were wild and unruly, but the wise Chiron was the exception — teacher of heroes.
Spartoi
🐉 creaturewarriors
Armed warriors who sprang fully grown from dragon's teeth sown in the earth, ancestors of Theban nobility
Giants
🐉 creatureearth-born, warfare
Enormous earth-born warriors who waged the Gigantomachy against the Olympian gods and were defeated only with the help of a mortal hero.
Mares of Diomedes
🐉 creatureMan-eating horses of Thrace
The Mares of Diomedes were four savage horses that King Diomedes of Thrace fed on human flesh, making them wild and uncontrollable — the eighth labour of Heracles.
Cynocephali
🐉 creatureExotic races, borders
Race of dog-headed people described by Greek geographers as dwelling at the edges of the known world
Pegasus
🐉 creatureFlight, heroism
Winged divine horse born from the blood of Medusa who carried Bellerophon against the Chimaera
Arion
🐉 creatureSpeed, divinity
Supernaturally fast divine horse born from Poseidon and Demeter, later ridden by the hero Adrastus
Makhai
🐉 creaturepersonifications
Daimones of battle and combat, born from Eris, who haunted every battlefield in the Greek world
Hippodamia of the Lapiths
🗡 heroconflict
Lapith princess whose wedding to Pirithous was disrupted when centaurs attempted to abduct her, triggering the Centauromachy.
Xanthus
🐉 creatureSpeed, prophecy
Immortal horse of Achilles gifted with speech who prophesied his master's death at Troy
Centauromachy
💭 conceptbattle
The battle between Lapiths and Centaurs at the wedding of Pirithous when drunken centaurs tried to carry off the Lapith women.
Centauromachy
💭 conceptBattle of Lapiths and Centaurs
The Centauromachy was the famous battle between the Lapiths and the Centaurs at the wedding of Pirithous — it became Greek art's favourite symbol for the clash between civilisation and barbarism.