Theseus Defeats The Centar (sculpture)

Theseus Defeats The Centar

By Antonio Canova (1804-1819)

Now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum

"Theseus was said to be very intelligent and a strong warrior. Pirithoüs (pi-RITH-oh-us), King of the Lapiths (LAP-iths), heard of Theseus's reputation and wanted to see for himself if Theseus was indeed as brave and clever as people said. So, one day when Theseus was herding his cattle near Marathon, Pirithoüs made a raid on his herd. A fight broke out at once. However, Pirithoüs overcome with admiration for Theseus, surrendered and humbly told him that he would accept any punishment Theseus chose. But Theseus asked only for his friendship.

Some time later, Pirithoüs invited his friend Theseus to his wedding to Hippodamia (hippo-DAME-ee-ah). Among the many wedding guests were the Centaurs (SEN-tars), neighbors of Pirithoüs. The Centaurs had the bodies of horses and the torsos and heads of men. They were an unruly bunch! They drank too much wine and started to make trouble. When they tried to kidnap Hippodamia, Theseus quickly intervened, defeating the Centaurs and saving his friend's bride." (An article from archive.artsmia.org)

This sculpture shows Theseus, son of Aegeus, King of Athens, finishing the battle with a Cebtar. The sculpture puts Theseus in a very heroic, strong light. Theseus looks very calm looking down at the Centar wincing in pain. Theseus' body is even calmer with smooth lines flowing from his raised arm down to his bent knee than that of the Centar with limbs and tail in each direction portraying his strain and difficulty. 

-Corinne Heeb