Centaur

A centaur is a creature from Greek mythology described as having the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse. The name derives from the Greek kentauros.

In classical depictions, centaurs inhabit mountains and forests, especially in Thessaly and on Pelion. They are commonly portrayed as wild and unruly, given to revelry and drinking, though some, notably Chiron, are shown as wise and benevolent tutors.

Key figures include Chiron, the wise tutor of heroes such as Achilles and Asclepius; Nessus, the centaur who ferried Deianira and later attacked Heracles; and Pholus, who hosted Heracles. The best-known myth involving centaurs is the centauromachy, a battle with the Lapiths at the wedding of Pirithous, used to symbolize the clash between civilization and barbarism.

In art and literature, centaurs have served as symbols of untamed nature, instinct, or the tension between intellect and impulse. They appear in ancient vase painting and sculpture and continue to recur in later European art, literature, and modern fantasy, where they are depicted in varied roles—from noble teachers to wild barbarians or complex figures that reflect human-versus-animal duality.