Centaurs, according to Greek legend, were a race of creatures who were half man and half horse. They lived on the plains of Thessaly in central Greece and were well known for their lawlessness and riotous temperament. They were also known as hippocentaur. According to the old paintings and graffitis it has been found that they had the hint of a house and the torso of a human. These mythical creatures were said that they were born to Nephele and Ixion. Another legend is that a certain person had mated with the Magnesian mares thus resulting in the birth of Centaurs. This Centaur might be the son of Ixion and Nephele or of Apollo and Stilbe (daughter of the Penesus who was the God of river). Centaurs are thought to be inhabited in the region of Magnesia, Mount Pelion, Elis and Malian Peninsula.
According to the history, the centaurs are best known for their battle against the Lapiths which caused them by their attempt to carry off Polish women and Hippodamia on the very date of her marriage with Pirithous (King of Lapithae and the son of Ixion). Centaurs and Pirithous are thought to be cousins. In the battle they were either destroyed or driven off from the land. Centaurs’ weapons were only tree branches and large rocks. Many paintings of ventures have been found on various potteries and statues and also on walls of mountains or caves. There were female centaurs as well which are known as Kentaurides. These females were not mentioned in the Greek literature or art but some Macedoin Mosiac of 4th century has been found in which female Centaurus were flanking Venus. It is also mentioned that a female centaurs Hylonome committed suicide when her husband (male centauruas) was killed I the battle against Lapiths.
The Centaurs also used to get very drunk, they were lustful and but one of them, Chiron, was very wise. Chiron was known for his honesty, wisdom and goodness. Chiron was the only centaur which was immortal. Because of his good character he was the tutor of many Greek heroes who includes Aesculapius, Actaeon and Achilles. Though he was immortal, he was accidentally wounded by Hercules. Hercules was on his way to visit Pholus. He stopped in a way because he was thirsty. The place where he stayed was a common property of controls. Hercules opened a jar of wine, the smell of wine travelled to Centaurs who came running towards Hercules, and so a fight broke out but Chiron didn’t take part in it. But he was accidentally attacked by Hercules, because of his terrible pain, Chiron traded his life for the release of Prometheus so that he could die instead of living forever with the pain.
Some of the few famous Centaurs are Eurytion, Pholus, Nessus, Rhoecus and Hylaeus. Eurytion was one of those centaurs who led the centaurs in the battle which was held on the day of Peritous wedding. On the day of the wedding the first fight broke out which was was solved with peace as a part of the Promised Land was handed over to Centraus. The centraus then attended the wedding but then got drunk by drinking all of the wine and thus the battle broke again in which they were defeated and exiled. After the battle the Centruaus settled on Mount Pelion, later Eyrytion persuaded King Dexamenus to give his daughter Mnesimache to be his wife, the Kind agreed. Later when Eurytion came to collect her on the wedding day, Hercules (one of the guest of the King) attacked him and he died.
Phollus was known for his good manners and being well involved with the society. Hercules was a good friend with Pholus. Pholus invited Hercules to be his guest. Hercules was thirsty and so Pholus gave him a jar of wine to drink to quench his thirst. The smell of wine spread and attracted other centaurs from the region which broke a battle, after the battle, Pholus accidently dropped a poisoned arrow (belonging to Hercules) on the foot and died. According to other people Pholus was the representative in the Constellation of Centaurs.
Nessus was a centaur of good character, he was driven away from his home by Hercules and later he devoted himself to river Evenus. Later he had the task of ferrying Hercules bride Deineria across the river, Nessus then took his revenge by trying to rape the bride. Hercules then killed him by poisonous arrow. While he was dying he told Deianeria that his blood is a love potion which I was drank by Hercules, he will remain faithful. This was a trick as Nessus blood was poisonous. Hercules drank this blood and thus he died too. Rhoecus and Hylaesu were those two centaurs who were killed by a single arrow when they were trying to rape Atlanta (daughter of Isasus who took oath to remain a virgin)
