Centaurs

1
Centaurs
offspring of Ixion, king of Lapith tribe, and
Nephele, the nymph of clouds
2
Two Tribes of Centaurs
Thessalian Centaurs chief story invited to
wedding of Lapith half-brother Perithoos, they
couldnt hold their wine and started to carry off
the female guests. In the resulting fight, most
were killed.
Reproduction of metopes of the Parthenon
frieze (Athens, ca. 430 BC)
3
Cheiron
Cheiron was a paradox in that he was a skilled
doctor and teacher. He was famous as a tutor to
Jason, Peleus, Asklepios, Aristaios and
Achilles. He was immortal, a kind of
subhuman/superhuman god. Later, he was brought
into the story of the Arcadian Centaurs.
Roman wall painting from the Basilica at
Herculaneum
4
Herakles and the Arkadian Centaurs
Hospitality gone wrong
sidestory to the Erymanthian Boar
5
Herakles visits his guest-friend the centaur
Pholos
barrel of wine opened for Herakles, or by
Herakles after his host had refused since it was
community property other centaurs sniff it, rush
in Herakles kills some, in melee Pholos stabbed
with arrowhead, dies Herakles chases others
south, accidentally kills Cheiron.
Why does a mere pinprick of Herakles arrows
kill?
6
What do Centaurs mean?
Centaur Nessos brings about Hs death
7
Herakles and Death(harrier of hell)
Cattle of Geryon (Labor 10)
Apples of the Hesperides (Labor 11)
Capture of Cerberus (Labor 12)
Wounds Hades in battle (Ap. II.7.3)
Rescue Alcestis from Death (Ap. II.6.2 I.9.14)
Text
8
Herakles and Hera
Hs birthright given to Eurystheus (not in
Apollodorus)
Snakes in the crib
Slays children (and wife Megara?)
Pythia greets H as HERAKLES for 1st time
Hydra aided by crab SENT BY HERA (not in Ap.)
Belt of Hippolyte
Cattle of Geryon
9
Hera and Herakles
Apples of the Hesperides
Throws guest-friend Iphitos to death from walls
of Tiryns in a fresh fit of madness. from Hera
again?
After he obtained immortality in Olympos, he
became reconciled with Hera and married her
daughter Hebe (youth)
Death, Transfiguration, Immortality bring
together 3 themes centaurs, Hades, Hera