Centaurs are legendary beings described as half man and half horse, although in modern times many depictions of Centaurs are romantic and even heroic (Chiron being the notable benevolent Centaur. Exceptions to this are Nessus from Disney's Hercules), the traditional tales of the Centaurs held them to be a brutal and wild race prone to drunkness, looting and defilement.
Centaurs often drank and fought amongst themselves as well as against various humans, often due to their piratical raiding of towns and their habit of kidnapping women.
Although often dangerous even in the days of ancient Greece there were examples of honorable Centaurs who aided humans rather than attacked them but they were considered the exception rather than the norm.
In some causes, they can wield a variety of weapons, often spears, bows and arrows, or on some occasions, they prefer fighting with fists and their horse legs which can seriously hurt or even kill humans with just a well place kick.
The Centaurs are best known for their fight with the people of Lapiths, which was caused by their attempt to carry off Hippodamia and the rest of the Lapith women on the day of Hippodamia's marriage to Pirithous who is king of the Lapithae, the son of Ixion. Absolus the prophet strongly warned against this deed, but nobody unfortunately listened to him. With the assistance of hero Theseus, Centaurs were driven off or destroyed.
Centarurides
| “ | How beautiful the Centaurides are, even where they are horses; for some grow out of white mares, others are attached to chestnut mares, and the coats of others are dappled, but they glisten like those of horses that are well cared for. There is also a white female Centaur that grows out of a black mare, and the very opposition of the colours helps to produce the united beauty of the whole. | „ |
| ~ Philostratus of Lemnos' description of Centaurides |
Centaurides (Greek: Κένταυρίδες) or Centauresses are female centaurs. First encountered in Greek mythology as members of the Tribe of the Centauroi, the Centaurides are only occasionally mentioned in written sources, but appear frequently in Greek art and Roman mosaics. The centauress who appears most frequently in literature is Hylonome, wife of the centaur Cyllarus.
Hylome
Hylome was a notable Centauride in Greek mythology. She was present at the battle against the Lapiths, where she lost her husband, the centaur Cyllarus, whom she loved very much. Cyllarus was mortally wounded in the battle and died besides her. Heartbroken, she then took her own life to join him.