Centaurs or Hippocentaurs are creatures with the body, legs and tail of a horse, and the chest, arms, and head of a human. They can be both male and female, although the masculine gender appears to be more common. The body of the centaur is often chestnut in colour, and the hair on its head is usually a dark brown. Variations are however present, with light brown and even white/cream centaurs seen. Both genders do not cut their hair on their heads, treating it as the hair on their backs. It is often left untied, although in war it is sometimes tied in a "pony-tail" for convenience. They often lived for over several hundred years, and in this time could make a great impact on the world around them.
There are two main groups of centaurs. One are violent and often drunk whereas the other are wise and noble. The former group are supposedly cousins to the latter group, although their behaviours differ greatly. The former are violent and often in a state of drunkenness. They are not however evil. Their temper is short and they will look for any excuse to get in a fight, and when questioned about it they will simply attack the one unwise enough to have dared to ask. It is probably best to avoid these creatures!
On the contrary, the latter group are said to be very wise and noble, rarely fighting, even in wars, unless for just causes. They spend the majority of their time stargazing, from which they are able to divine as to what will happen in the near and distant future. Many prophecies are created by the centaurs for the future of the world, and they often come to pass. They are also skilled in healing and medicinal herbs. They actually taught the Greek god Asclepius of healing and medicine his trade. These centaurs are often well read and very philosophical.
These two groups of centaurs were used to show by the Greeks and Romans how there were many evil horse-riding barbarians who would not listen to reason, they only plundered cities, and how some could be traded with; they could be important allies and a good supplier in various resources abundant in their regions. All centaurs carry the bow and arrow, which again symbolises the barbaric peoples of the north.
In medieval times opinion continued to be divided about the nature of the centaurs, although many used them as a heraldic creature. This meant they were placed on coats of arms and family emblems. In modern times the centaur is seen as a wise creature, who taught great heroes such as Achilles how to not just fight, but how to win. They also taught the heroes the arts of philosophy and reading.
Perhaps the most well known centaur is the constellation Sagittarius. Sagittarius is a constellation in the sky, often associated with the period from mid-November to mid-December in the Zodiac cycle. Sagittarius was originally Chiron, immortal teacher of Achilles. After receiving a terrible wound he gave up his immortality rather than live with eternal pain. After his death Zeus, king of the Olympian gods made him into the well known constellation.
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