Greek Mythology: Origin of the Centaurs

When Ixion, king of the

Lapiths, saw Dia, daughter of Deioneus, he fell madly in love with her.

"I must wed this fair maiden," he though to himself, and, without delay, approached his prospective father-in-law.

"I shall bestow many opulent gifts on you, in exchange for thy daughter's hand," said Ixion.

"Well," replied Deioneus, desperately trying to hide a huge grin under his thick facial hairs, "I love my daughter dearly..."

"I'll toss in a herd of horses," declared Ixion, convincingly.

"Take her, take her!" mumbled Deioneus, dazzled by the extravagant offer, and shoved Dia into Ixion's arms, lest he change his mind.

As it happens, Ixion had many traits, but honesty wasn't one of them. So, he fell down on his promise. When Deioneus realized that he'd been had, he sent his son-in-law an ultimatum: "Either deliver the gifts, or return Dia."

Dang, thought Ixion, and dispatched a messenger to Deioneus, with the following communication:

"Deioneus, you can pick your gifts up after the next new moon. And, just to make sure there are no hard feelings between us, I am organizing a feast in your honor."

Deioneus showed up at Ixion's palace just after the next new moon, but it was deserted. The sinister silence, which was only broken by the occasional squawk of a crow and the crackling of burning wood, sent shivers down his spine.

"Where are all the guests?" he asked suspiciously.

"You're early," Ixion replied slyly, handing him a goblet filled with fine red wine, "the other guests are scheduled to arrive just after sundown. Meanwhile, let me show you the arrangements."

Ixion led Deioneus to a huge pit, where a large bonfire was burning.

"This is where we're going to roast the oxen," he said, "do you think we need more wood?"

As Deioneus stooped over to take a better look, Ixion pushed him into the pit. The distressed man desperately tried to climb out, screaming painfully, pleading Ixion for help, but his wicked son-in-law would just shove him back into the flames, laughing like a madman, enjoying Deioneus' torment.

Thus, Ixion, the Greek equivalent of Cain, became the first man to stain his hands with a kinsman's blood. His crime was so repulsive to mortals and gods alike, that no one was willing purify him. Ixion was banished by mankind and began to wander the plains of Thessaly, in lunacy, as an exile.

In despair, Ixion finally pleaded with

Zeus for forgiveness. He was in luck! The father of gods and men had just returned to Mt. Olympus after a memorable night out with a beautiful nymph and was in a great mood. So, not only did he agree to perform the purification ritual, but also invited Ixion to sit at the table of the immortals.

Intoxicated by his good fortune, the godly nectar and the fine wine, Ixion tried to seduce

Hera, but, of course, Zeus' watchful eye caught the goings on. Now Zeus, like most primeval deities, shared a lot of characteristics with the mortals. And, like a typical human male, he didn't particularly like the idea of someone flirting with his spouse, although he, himself, regularly enjoyed the company of many beautiful women, married and single. Enraged, the mighty god lifted his right arm to launch a golden thunderbolt against Ixion.

Ixion's Torture, Amphora c. 330 BC
Staatliche Museen, Berlin, Germany

Just before firing, Zeus felt

Athena's delicate hand on his muscular shoulder. "Don't, father," whispered the goddess of wisdom in his ear, "he hasn't done anything punishable yet, he's merely trying to entice Hera!"

"What am I to do, wait until he gets his way with her?" Zeus asked bewildered.

"Test him," replied the resourceful goddess, "and if he does commit adultery, chastise him!"

So, Zeus shaped a cloud, known as Nephele, into Hera's form. The dummy was so perfect in every detail, that Ixion was completely fooled and, of course, mated with it.

Zeus got downright mad, because he couldn't understand how anyone could be so inconsiderate to his host. He promptly ordered the messenger of the gods,

Hermes, to seize Ixion and take him to

Hades, where the culprit was bound to a winged, fiery wheel, which constantly revolved in all directions.

Nine months later, Nephele gave birth to a monstrous being, Centaurus, which was in essence an outcast, since men and gods, alike, abhorred it. Centaurus mated with the wild mares of Mt. Pelion, thus becoming the progenitor of a tribe of lecherous and drunken creatures, known as the Centaurs. Ixion's sons resembled both their father and mothers, as they had a human torso, head and arms, connected to an equine body and legs.