Centaurs were fantastic beings, half man, and half horse.
The upper parts of their bodies were human, while rear parts were those
of a horse. They were brutal and behaved like beasts, lived in mountains
and forests, and ate raw flesh. Two of the centaurs, Chiron and
Pholus, were of different origin, and consequently of different
habits and behavior. Chiron and Pholus were hospitable, charitable and
loved their fellows, shunning violence. Centaurs frequently battled against
each other, against Heracles, against Lapiths,
a people of Thessaly. They are characters of several myths.
See: Filippino Lippi The
Wounded Centaur.
Michelangelo Battle
of the Centaurs.