Centauromachy
/ˌsɛn.tɔːˈrɒm.ə.ki/noun
A battle between centaurs and humans, especially the mythological battle between centaurs and the Lapiths.
Did you know?The Centauromachy became a major subject in Greek art, where the half-human, half-horse centaurs often symbolized uncontrolled passion confronting civilized order.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Greek
Greek
κενταυρομαχία (kentauromachía)
“A battle involving centaurs; specifically, a centaur-war or centaur-fight.”
Classical Greek
Greek
κένταυρος (kéntauros)
“Centaur, the mythical creature combining a human torso with a horse’s body; the word’s deeper origin is uncertain.”
Classical Greek
Greek
μάχη (máchē)
“Battle, fight, or combat.”
Late Latin
Latin
centauromachia
“A battle of centaurs, borrowed from Greek.”
16th Century
English
centauromachy
“A battle between centaurs and humans, used in learned or mythological writing.”
Modern English
English
centauromachy
“The mythological conflict between centaurs and the Lapiths, or any artistic representation of that conflict.”
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