Amycus (centaur)
- For the Trojan hero of this name, see Amycus, and for other holders of the name see Amycus (disambiguation).
In Greek mythology, Amycus (Greek: Ἄμυκος) was a male centaur Amycus was the son of Ophion. There is not much known about Amycus but he is said to have involvement in the Centauromachy; which was a battle between the centaurs and the Lapith people; this battle is what the centaurs are best known for. The battle took place during the wedding of the King of the Lapithae, Pirithous and Hippodamia. Amycus involvement in this battle is recognized in the Metamorphoses written by the Roman poet Ovid. In this it is noted that Amycus along with many other centaurs were invited and attended the wedding that turned in to a bloody battle. The centaurs become drunk of wine and attempted to take Hippodamia along with other Lapith women as they pleased. Eurytus a centaur that could not control himself when the bride, Hippodamia, was presented; he attempted to kidnap and rape her. He inspired all the drunken centaurs to attack and violate the Lapith women as they could. Theseus a friend of Pirithous stopped the centaur Eurytus unilimally killing him resulting in the first blood of the battle. Amycus's role in this battle is of great importance; he was responsible for the first death of one of the Lapith people. Driven with anger due to the death of the loved centaur Eurytus, Amycus smashed the head of innocent Lapith Celadon with a candlestick. Pelates from Pella clubbed him to death using a leg from a maple table, sending Amycus down to the underworld Tartarus. These were the first deaths of the battle between the centaurs and the Lapith people.[1] The Lapiths ultimately defeated the centaurs and drove them from Thessaly to the northwest. The Centauromachy is a well known legend and inspired many. Two of the most famously portrayed artworks are in the Parthenon metopes by Phidias and in a Renaissance-era sculpture by Michelangelo.
55576 Amycus is a minor planet named after Amycus the centaur.[2]
References
- ↑ Ovid (3 November 2009). The Metamorphoses. Penguin Group US. p. 372. ISBN 978-1-101-18497-4. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- ↑ Lutz, Schmadel. Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. p. 1203.