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Centaurs (Kένταυροι) Centaurs, the fantastic half-human, half-HORSE beings who live near
Mt. PELION, are alien to the action of Homeric
epic, yet they form part of the mythological
substratum of its world, particularly in legends
of the previous generation of heroes (Gantz
1993: 143–147) (see also MYTH). They appear
first in NESTOR’s account of the battle of the
LAPITHS and Centaurs (Il. 1.263–271) and second
when ANTINOOS (Od. 21.295–304) further details
this battle as the origin of the hostility between
humans and Centaurs (see also EURYTION). The
latter passage establishes the susceptibility to
the effects of WINE on sexual desire that comes to
characterize Centaurs in later literature.
Archaic epic does not maintain a consistent
account of Centaurs. Homeric epic’s Centaurs do
not specify their composite nature. Their creation
similarly is uncertain, as HESIOD designates their
mother as Phillyra (Th. 1001–1002), while fragments of the Gigantomachia (or Titanomachia;
The Homer Encyclopedia, edited by Margalit Finkelberg
© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
fr. 10 Bernabé) and Pherecydes of Athens (fr.
50 Jacoby = Fowler) describe CHEIRON as the
first Centaur, born from the union of KRONOS,
in horse form, and Phillyra; Pindar maintain
this account as well (Pyth. 3.4; 4.102–103, 115).
The Iliadic passages usually do not specifically
name Centaurs, but beasts (phêres) that are “of
the mountain” (1.268) and “shaggy” (2.743; cf.
Hymn. Merc. 224). More significantly, Cheiron,
“most just of the Centaurs,” was the teacher of
ACHILLES (Il. 11.832) and had given the ash spear
to PELEUS which only Achilles at Troy was able
to wield (16.143; 19.390). Other traditions have
Cheiron saving Peleus from a group of hostile
Centaurs (Apollod. 3.13.1–3). Cheiron also gave
healing drugs to MACHAON’s father ASKLEPIOS (Il.
4.219) (see MAGIC).
See also AITHIKES.
ROBIN MITCHELL-BOYASK
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