Centaurs · Atlas

in the texts

On the Nature of the GodsHellenistic · Latin

Mythical hybrid creatures said to have been born from a cloud, cited in Cotta's discussion of cloud mythology

one of which is even said to have brought forth the Centaurs.

OrationsImperial · Greek

The monstrous, patched-together race born of Ixion's union with a cloud, used as a metaphor for the useless, senseless products of false ambition.

For they say that he too, desiring the blessed union with Hera, and consorting with a cloud, dark and misty, begot useless and monstrous offspring, the race of the Centaurs, motley and patched together.

chapter 6 ¶

And from such unions or marriages nothing beneficial or useful would be born, but monstrous and senseless things, resembling the Centaurs—the public measures of certain demagogues and the writings of sophists.

oration 4 ¶

AndromacheClassical · Greek

Legendary half-horse creatures who fought the Lapithae, recalled by the Chorus as among Peleus's youthful battles.

now am I sure that thou wert with the Lapithae, wielding thy famous spear, when they fought the Centaurs;

andromache ¶

HeraclesClassical · Greek

A wild tribe of hybrid horse-men dwelling on Pholoe and Pelion, defeated by Heracles and invoked as witnesses to his courage.

And then one day with murderous bow he wounded the race of wild Centaurs, that range the hills, slaying them with winged shafts.

heracles ¶

or go to Pholoe and ask the insolent tribe of four-legged Centaurs, you craven king, ask them who they would judge the bravest of men;

heracles ¶

Iphigenia in AulisClassical · Greek

The half-man, half-horse creatures who join the feast at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis.

The revel-rout of Centaurs came too, mounted on horses, to the feast of the gods and the mixing-bowl of Bacchus, leaning on fir-trees, with wreaths of green foliage round their heads;

iphigenia in aulis ¶

Shield of HeraclesClassical · Greek

Hybrid horse-men, led by Petraeus, Asbolus, Mimas and other named figures, depicted fighting the Lapiths with pine-tree clubs on the shield.

And the Centaurs were gathered against them on the other side with Petraeus and Asbolus the diviner, Arctus, and Ureus, and black-haired Mimas, and the two sons of Peuceus, Perimedes and Dryalus:

shield of heracles ¶

EpigramsClassical · Greek

Mythic beings summoned to devastate the pottery works.

let them make sad havoc of the pots and overthrow the kiln, and let the potters see the mischief and be grieved;

epigrams ¶

Let Chiron also come and bring many Centaurs— all that escaped the hands of Heracles and all that were destroyed:

epigrams ¶

OdysseyClassical · Greek

A race of creatures, of whom Eurytion is one, said to have gone to war with humankind after his crime.

Henceforth, therefore, there was war between humankind and the centaurs, but he brought it upon himself through his own drunkenness.

chapter 21 ¶

EvagorasClassical · Greek

Mythic opponents in a battle where Peleus gained distinction.

Telamon won the meed of valor in an expedition with Heracles against Laomedon, and Peleus, having distinguished himself in the battle with the Centaurs and having won glory in many other hazardous enterprises, wedded Thetis, the daughter of Nereus, he a mortal winning an immortal bride.

evagoras ¶

HelenClassical · Greek

Race of creatures of double nature (half-man, half-horse) defeated by Theseus in alliance with the Lapiths.

And after this, allying himself with the Lapiths, he took the field against the Centaurs, those creatures of double nature, endowed with surpassing swiftness, strength, and daring, who were sacking, or about to sack, or were threatening, one city after another.

letter 95 ¶

De PallioLate Antiquity · Latin

Mythological creatures whose blood tipped Hercules's arrows, invoked as a symbol of his lost heroism.

The old blood of the Hydra and the Centaurs in the arrows was now shut out by the pumice of the dart, luxury insulting, that after the monsters transfixed they might perhaps stitch a garland.

de pallio ¶