![centaur (/ˈsɛntɔːr/; Greek: Κένταυρος, Kéntauros, Latin: centaurus) or hippocentaur[1][2][3] is a mythological creature with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse.[4] In early Attic and Beotian vase-paintings (see below), they are depicted with the hindquarters of a horse attached to them; in later renderings centaurs are given the torso of a human joined at the waist to the horse's withers, where the horse's neck would be.[citation needed] This half-human and half-horse composition has led many writers to treat them as liminal beings, caught between the two natures, embodied in contrasted myths, both as the embodiment of untamed nature, as in their battle with the Lapiths (their kin), or conversely as teachers, like Chiron. The centaurs were usually said to have been born of Ixion and Nephele (the cloud made in the image of Hera). Another version, however, makes them children of a certain Centaurus, who mated with the Magnesian mares. This Centaurus was either himself the son of Ixion and Nephele (inserting an additional generation) or of Apollo and Stilbe, daughter of the river god Peneus. In the later version of the story his twin brother was Lapithes, ancestor of the Lapiths, thus making the two warring peoples cousins. Centaurs were said to have inhabited the region of Magnesia and Mount Pelion in Thessaly, the Foloi oak forest in Elis, and the Malean peninsula in southern Laconia. They continued to feature in literary forms of Roman mythology. A pair of them draw the chariot of Constantine the Great and his family in the Great Cameo of Constantine[clarification needed] (c314-16), which embodies wholly pagan imagery.[5]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSipyM5hRNbCLlKyHqBDqQzKAY63lLda0qKLxGlmU4g5xBEFhIRNoeK1UWfa8Xf3Ras8wsoh99EfsIKxItaGNDG4_il0YtGV-mCvdKorUnFoP8tqRF_dMpb3DD_wM1fiXa3kOjiLhHWNc/s1600/Screenshot_2015-07-31-15-28-11.png)
Avatar Island is proving to be a very interesting place.
For the past three days I've been touring the island and have found some interesting sights, but nothing like the picture above. The Centaur caught me completely off guard.
Now, for those who don't know what a Centaur is, I will give you the crash course in Greek Mythology: Centaurs, according to Greek mythology, were said to be the offspring of Ixion, son of Ares, and a cloud. These strange creatures had the head arms and chest of a man but the legs and lower half of a horse. These Man-Horse beasts lived in Thessaly, fed on meat and were given to riotous revelries. They came to symbolize the dark, unruly forces of nature. They were usually depicted as drunken followers of Dionysus, except for Cheiron who was the tutor to several heroes.
And now you've had your mythology course for the day. So if you're ever in that part of the Island, stop by and grab a selfie with it - as you can see, someone made sure he'd be ready to smile for the camera.
Centaurs,
according to Greek mythology, were said to be the offspring of Ixion,
son of Ares, and a cloud. These strange creatures had the head arms and
chest of a man but the legs and lower half of a horse. In later myths
and stories they sometimes had horns, wings or both. Back to Greek
mythology, these Man-Horse beasts lived in Thessaly, fed on meat and
were given to riotous revelries. They came to symbolize the dark, unruly
forces of nature. They were usually depicted as drunken followers of
Dionysus, except for Cheiron who was the tutor to several heroes... -
See more at:
http://www.mythicalrealm.com/creatures/centaurs.html#sthash.2KfVODK4.dpuf
Centaurs,
according to Greek mythology, were said to be the offspring of Ixion,
son of Ares, and a cloud. These strange creatures had the head arms and
chest of a man but the legs and lower half of a horse. In later myths
and stories they sometimes had horns, wings or both. Back to Greek
mythology, these Man-Horse beasts lived in Thessaly, fed on meat and
were given to riotous revelries. They came to symbolize the dark, unruly
forces of nature. They were usually depicted as drunken followers of
Dionysus, except for Cheiron who was the tutor to several heroes... -
See more at:
http://www.mythicalrealm.com/creatures/centaurs.html#sthash.2KfVODK4.dpuf
Centaurs,
according to Greek mythology, were said to be the offspring of Ixion,
son of Ares, and a cloud. These strange creatures had the head arms and
chest of a man but the legs and lower half of a horse. In later myths
and stories they sometimes had horns, wings or both. Back to Greek
mythology, these Man-Horse beasts lived in Thessaly, fed on meat and
were given to riotous revelries. They came to symbolize the dark, unruly
forces of nature. They were usually depicted as drunken followers of
Dionysus, except for Cheiron who was the tutor to several heroes... -
See more at:
http://www.mythicalrealm.com/creatures/centaurs.html#sthash.2KfVODK4.dpuf
