Nephele
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| - | In [[Greek mythology]], the '''Centaurs''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Κένταυροι) are a race of creatures composed of part [[human]] and part [[horse]]. In early [[Attica|Attic]] [[Pottery of ancient Greece|vase-paintings]], they are depicted as the torso of a human joined at the (human's) waist to the horse's [[withers]], where the horse's neck would be. | + | In [[Greek mythology]], '''Nephele''' ({{lang-el|Νεφέλη}}, from ''nephos'' "cloud"; [[Latin]]ized to ''Nubes'') was a cloud [[nymph]] who figured prominently in the story of [[Phrixus]] and [[Helle (mythology)|Helle]]. |
| - | This half-human and half-animal composition has led many writers to treat them as [[liminal being]]s, caught between the two natures, embodied in contrasted myths, and as the embodiment of untamed nature, as in their battle with the [[Lapith]]s, or conversely as teachers, like [[Chiron]]. | + | Greek myth also has it that Nephele is the cloud whom [[Zeus]] created in the image of [[Hera]] to trick [[Ixion]] to test his integritiy after displaying his lust for Hera during a feast as a guest of Zeus. Ixion failed in restraining his lust for Hera and thus fathering [[Centaurs]]. |
| - | The centaurs descended from [[Centaurus (Greek mythology)|Centaurus]], who mated with the Magnesian mares. Centaurus was the son of either [[Ixion]] and [[Nephele]] (the cloud made in the image of [[Hera]]) or of [[Apollo]] and [[Stilbe]], daughter of the river god [[Peneus]]. In the latter version of the story his twin brother was [[Lapithus]], ancestor of the Lapiths, thus making the two warring peoples cousins. | + | Nephele married [[Athamus]], but he divorced her for [[Ino (Greek mythology)|Ino]]. Phrixus, son of Athamas and Nephele, along with his twin Helle, were hated by their stepmother, Ino. Ino hatched a devious plot to get rid of the twins, roasting all the town's crop seeds so they would not grow. The local farmers, frightened of famine, asked a nearby [[oracle]] for assistance. Ino bribed the men sent to the oracle to lie and tell the others that the oracle required the sacrifice of Phrixus. Before he was killed though, Phrixus and Helle were rescued by a flying golden ram sent by Nephele, their natural mother. |
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| - | Centaurs supposedly inhabited the mountains of Erymanthus in [[Thessaly]], or Clyon's countryside. | + | |
| - | == Modern day == | + | |
| - | The [[John C. Hodges library at The University of Tennessee]] hosts a permanent exhibit of a "Centaur from [[Volos]]", in its library. The exhibit, made by combining a study human skeleton with the skeleton of a [[Shetland pony]] is entitled "Do you believe in Centaurs?" and was meant to mislead students in order to make them more critically aware, according to the exhibitors. | + | |
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| - | A centaur is one of the symbols associated with both the [[Iota Phi Theta]] and the [[Delta Lambda Phi]] [[fraternity|fraternities]]. Whereas centaurs in Greek mythology were generally symbolic of chaos and unbridled passions, Delta Lambda Phi's centaur is modeled after Chiron and represents [[honour|honor]], [[moderation]] and tempered [[masculinity]]. | + | |
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| - | ===Fiction=== | + | |
| - | Centaurs have appeared in many places in modern fiction, and may be regarded as a fantasy [[Trope (literature)|trope]]. In modern [[literature]] there are very different views of centaurs that vary with the [[author]]. | + | |
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| - | [[Eoin Colfer]]'s [[Artemis Fowl (series)|Artemis Fowl]] series features [[Foaly]], one of the heroes, and the most intelligent centaur on and under the Earth. | + | |
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| - | In [[J. K. Rowling]]'s [[Harry Potter]] series [[Magical creatures (Harry Potter)#Centaurs|centaurs]] are aggressive creatures that live in the [[Hogwarts#Forbidden Forest|Forbidden Forest]]. The centaurs tend to be violent if people intrude on their territory. They study the stars and planets, and can also sometimes see the [[future]] - although they may speak in very indirect and ambiguous terms about it. | + | |
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| - | In [[C. S. Lewis]]'s [[The Chronicles of Narnia]], centaurs are noble, loyal, and brave. They help [[Aslan]]'s army fight against the [[White Witch]], in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," but they gain a more prominent role in the second book, "Prince Caspian" where a centaur named Glenstorm (who also studies the stars and reads the future) is an important character. | + | |
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| - | In [[Rick Riordan]]'s [[Percy Jackson & The Olympians]] series centaurs are friendly and help Camp Half Blood against the attacks of Kronos and Luke. | + | |
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| - | The American poet [[May Swenson]] wrote a poem called "The Centaur," which appeared in her book ''A Cage of Spines'' in 1958, and which portrays a girl riding a make-believe horse (actually a willow branch) who comes to feel that she is the horse. | + | |
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| - | In the series [[Kamen Rider Faiz]], Kiba's Orphenoch alter ego can assume a centuar-like form. | + | |
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| - | In the seriers [[Mahou Sentai Magiranger]], Wolzard can combine with Barikion to become Wol-Kentaurus. | + | |
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| - | ===Film=== | + | |
| - | Centaurs, among many other fantastic creatures, played a key role in one of the animated shorts from [[The Walt Disney Company]]'s [[Fantasia (film)#The Pastoral Symphony|Fantasia (The Pastoral Symphony)]]. Among them were the typical white, bay, and chestnut centaurs, along with various unnatural colors, and also a pair of "Nubian" centaurs which were dark-skinned and Zebra. | + | |
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| - | Centaurs have appeared in the [[Harry Potter (film series)|Harry Potter film series]] and in [[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]. | + | |
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| - | ===Games=== | + | |
| - | [[Tomb Raider]] and [[Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary]] both feature centaurs and centaur [[mutant]]s as foe. The [[Mortal Kombat]] character [[Motaro]] is the leader of his centaur race. | + | |
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| - | [[World of Warcraft]] Centaurs are depicted as the savage children of [[Cenarius]] | + | |
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| - | Centaur Man is a [[Robot Master]] in [[Mega Man 6]]. He appears as a light-green robotic Centaur with the ability to freeze his enemies and teleport around the room. | + | |
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| - | Centaurs frequently appear in the video game series [[Heroes of Might and Magic]] as soldiers of the forests. | + | |
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| - | Centaurs are enemies in [[Titan Quest]]. | + | |
| + | Phrixus and Helle were instructed to not look down to earth for the duration of their flight. Helle though, did look down, and fell off the ram into the [[Hellespont]] (which was named after her, meaning ''Sea of Helle'') and drowned, but Phrixus survived all the way to [[Colchis]], where King [[Aeetes]] took him in and treated him kindly, giving Phrixus his daughter, [[Chalciope]], in marriage. In gratitude, Phrixus gave the king the [[golden fleece]] of the ram, which Aeetes hung in a tree in his kingdom. The golden fleece would later be taken by [[Jason]]. | ||
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In Greek mythology, Nephele (Template:Lang-el, from nephos "cloud"; Latinized to Nubes) was a cloud nymph who figured prominently in the story of Phrixus and Helle.
Greek myth also has it that Nephele is the cloud whom Zeus created in the image of Hera to trick Ixion to test his integritiy after displaying his lust for Hera during a feast as a guest of Zeus. Ixion failed in restraining his lust for Hera and thus fathering Centaurs.
Nephele married Athamus, but he divorced her for Ino. Phrixus, son of Athamas and Nephele, along with his twin Helle, were hated by their stepmother, Ino. Ino hatched a devious plot to get rid of the twins, roasting all the town's crop seeds so they would not grow. The local farmers, frightened of famine, asked a nearby oracle for assistance. Ino bribed the men sent to the oracle to lie and tell the others that the oracle required the sacrifice of Phrixus. Before he was killed though, Phrixus and Helle were rescued by a flying golden ram sent by Nephele, their natural mother.
Phrixus and Helle were instructed to not look down to earth for the duration of their flight. Helle though, did look down, and fell off the ram into the Hellespont (which was named after her, meaning Sea of Helle) and drowned, but Phrixus survived all the way to Colchis, where King Aeetes took him in and treated him kindly, giving Phrixus his daughter, Chalciope, in marriage. In gratitude, Phrixus gave the king the golden fleece of the ram, which Aeetes hung in a tree in his kingdom. The golden fleece would later be taken by Jason.
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Nephele" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
