In Greek mythology, the centaur is a creature with the head and torso of a man and the lower body of a horse. Sometimes depicted as a man down to the feet with the hind legs, body and tail of a horse.

Though seldom mentioned, there were female centaurs who were known as Kentaurides or Centaurides, and said to be of great beauty.

Ancient centaurs and hippocentaurs are two distinct creatures but the name centaurs is used for both.

The term centaur has also been used to refer to any winged animal with the head of a human.

See Also: Creatures by Type » Horses

References

Blacket, William Stephens. Researches Into the Lost Histories of America. London: Trubner & co., 1883.

Smith, William. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1859.