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{{Creature infobox
  
{{Creature infobox
 
|name=Centaur
  
|name=Centaur
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|sentience=[[Human]] intelligence
 
 
|skin=Varies
  
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|eyes=Varies
 
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|hair=Varies
  
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|feathers=
  
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|native=[[Europe]]
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|native=*[[Europe]]<ref>{{FB}}</ref>, including
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**[[Greece]]<ref>{{FB}}</ref>
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**[[Great Britain]]<ref name="PS15">{{PS}}</ref><ref name="FBC">{{FBC}}</ref>
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**[[Croatia]]<ref>{{FB|F}}</ref>
 
|related=*[[Human]]s
 
|related=*[[Human]]s
 
*[[Horse]]s
  
*[[Horse]]s
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|height=+7 ft
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|height=Above seven feet
 
|length= Humanoid
  
|length= Humanoid
 
|wingspan=
  
|wingspan=
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|distinction=*Lower torso is a horse's body
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|distinction=*Lower torso is a [[horse]]'s body
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*Higher torso is a human's body
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*Higher torso is a [[human]]'s body
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*Capable of human intelligence and speech
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*Capable of [[human]] intelligence and speech
 
|affiliation=
  
|affiliation=
 
|class=[[Beast]] <br/> [[XXXX]]
  
|class=[[Beast]] <br/> [[XXXX]]
 
|status=Extant
  
|status=Extant
 
}}
  
}}
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{{Quote|Forest-dwellers who have the torso of a human but the body of a horse, and who are gifted in Divination.|Description of centuars|Pottermore}}
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{{Quote|Forest-dwellers who have the torso of a human but the body of a horse, and who are gifted in Divination.|Description of centaurs|Pottermore}}
   
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A '''Centaur''' is a [[magic]]al creature whose head, torso, and arms appear to be [[human]] and are joined to a [[horse]]'s body. They are, however, their own species, and are not any kind of [[half-breed]]. They also have a rich history and are known for being skilled in healing, divination and astronomy.
 +
A '''Centaur''' is a [[magic]]al [[creature]] whose head, torso, and arms appear to be [[human]] and are joined to a [[horse]]'s body. They are, however, their own individual species, and thus are not [[half-breed]]s. They also have a rich history and are known for being naturally talented in [[Healing magic]], [[Divination]] and [[Astronomy (class)|Astronomy]].
   
−
Despite possessing 'human intelligence,' centaurs are classified as [[Beast]]s by the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]], at their own request, as they were unhappy at having to share [[Being]] status with [[hag]]s and [[vampire]]s.
 +
Despite possessing 'human intelligence,' centaurs are classified as [[Beast]]s by the [[British Ministry of Magic]], at their own request, as they were unhappy at having to share [[Being]] status with [[Hag]]s and [[Vampire]]s, known [[Dark Arts|dark]] creatures.<ref name="FBR">{{FB|R}}</ref>
   
 
==Description==
  
==Description==
   
 
===Physical appearance===
  
===Physical appearance===
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{{Quote|And into the clearing came — was it a man, or a horse? To the waist, a man, with red hair and beard, but below that was a horse's gleaming chestnut body with a long, reddish tail.|Description of a centaur|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}
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{{Quote|And into the clearing came — was it a man, or a horse? To the waist, a man, with red hair and beard, but below that was a horse's gleaming chestnut body with a long, reddish tail.|Description of a centaur|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}[[File:Centaur_WB_F5_CentaurPortrait_Illust_100615_Port.jpg|222x222px|thumb|left|A centaur's general appearance]]
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[[File:Centaur_WB_F5_CentaurPortrait_Illust_100615_Port.jpg|thumb|left|A centaur's general appearance.|222x222px]]
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[[File:Centaurs (whole body - conceptual artwork).jpg|225px|thumb|left|The full body of a Centaur]]
   
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Like horses, centaurs can come in a variety of colours, ranging from deep black to white. A centaur by the name of Firenze had white-blonde hair, a body light in colour, and possessed astonishingly blue eyes. [[Magorian]] on the other hand possessed black hair and was chestnut in colour. Centaurs have the body of a horse, and the torso, arms, and head of a human. Also [[Lavender Brown]] and [[Parvati Patil]] found the centaur Firenze physically attractive.
 +
Like horses, centaurs can come in a variety of colours, ranging from deep black to white. A centaur by the name of [[Firenze]] had white-blonde hair, a body light in colour, and possessed astonishingly blue eyes. [[Magorian]] on the other hand possessed black hair and was chestnut in colour. Centaurs have the body of a horse, and the torso, arms, and head of a human. Also [[Lavender Brown]] and [[Parvati Patil]] found the centaur Firenze physically attractive.
   
−
Centaurs are not in fact half-breeds, but an entirely different species on their own. They are not very pleased to be insulted, particularly where their lineage is concerned, as [[Dolores Umbridge|Professor Umbridge]] found out to her cost. 
 +
Centaurs are not in fact half-breeds, but an entirely different species on their own. They are not very pleased to be insulted, particularly where their lineage is concerned, as [[Dolores Umbridge]] found out to her cost. 
   
−
Centaurs may possess the ability to be clairvoyant, judging from [[Firenze]] who taught alongside [[Sybill Trelawney]].
 +
Centaurs are also natural born [[Seer]]s, in particular the Centaur [[Firenze]] who taught alongside [[Sybill Trelawney]] in [[Divination (class)|Divination class]] at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]].
   
 
===Mannerisms===
  
===Mannerisms===
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Centaurs are known to be gifted in [[Divination|divining]]. Indeed, the [[Forbidden Forest Centaur colony|centaurs]] of the [[Forbidden Forest]] regularly made vague allusions to seeing the future, as when the centaur [[Firenze]] told [[Harry Potter]] that they were fated to meet again, and when he and [[Bane]] spoke of the "intermission" of sorts, between the [[First Wizarding War|First]] and [[Second Wizarding War]]s<ref name="PS">{{PS}}</ref>. He also mentioned to his class at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]], that centaurs spend years trying to master their particular art of divining the fates.<ref name="OP" />
 +
{{Quote|Never try an' get a straight answer out of a centaur. Ruddy stargazers. Not interested in anythin' closer'n the [[moon]].|Rubeus Hagrid|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}Centaurs are known to be gifted in [[Divination]]. Indeed, the [[Forbidden Forest Centaur colony|centaurs]] of the [[Forbidden Forest]] regularly made vague allusions to seeing the future, as when the centaur [[Firenze]] told [[Harry Potter]] that they were fated to meet again, and when he and [[Bane]] spoke of the "intermission" of sorts, between the [[First Wizarding War|First]] and [[Second Wizarding War]]s.<ref name="PS15">{{PS|B|15}}</ref> He also mentioned to his class at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]], that centaurs spend years trying to master their particular art of divining the fates.<ref name="OP" />
   
−
Centaurs on the whole seem also to be rather proud of their species, which was evident in their testiness whenever anyone even accidentally alluded to them being "used" or in any way employed by humankind, as when[[ Firenze]] was chastised for allowing [[Harry Potter]] to ride to safety on his back, after the young wizard encountered [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] in the [[Forbidden Forest]] — his fellow centaurs considered allowing such a thing tantamount to becoming a 'common' mule<ref name="PS" />.
 +
Centaurs on the whole seem also to be rather proud of their species, which was evident in their testiness whenever anyone even accidentally alluded to them being "used" or in any way employed by humankind, as when [[Firenze]] was chastised for allowing [[Harry Potter]] to ride to safety on his back, after the young wizard encountered [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] in the [[Forbidden Forest]] — his fellow centaurs considered allowing such a thing tantamount to becoming a 'common' mule.<ref name="PS15" />
   
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[[File:Centaurs.JPG|thumb|251x251px|A herd of centaurs armed with bows and arrows, their primary weapons]]
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[[File:Centaurs.JPG|251x251px|thumb|A herd of centaurs armed with bows and arrows, their primary weapons]]
   
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In [[1995]], they attempted to murder Firenze for his decision to "enter into human servitude," which was seen as a great and base betrayal<ref name="OP" />. Centaurs also decided to be placed in the [[Beast Division]] instead of the [[Being Division]] in the British Ministry of Magic archives, because they wished to not be associated with hags and vampires, whom the Ministry designates "Beings"<ref name="FB" />.
 +
In [[1995]], they attempted to murder Firenze for his decision to "enter into human servitude," which was seen as a great and base betrayal.<ref name="OP" /> Centaurs also decided to be placed in the [[Beast Division]] instead of the [[Being Division]] in the British Ministry of Magic archives, because they wished to not be associated with hags and vampires, whom the Ministry designates "Beings".<ref name="FBR" />
   
 
Centaurs also seem to favour nature over technology, the extent of their tools visibly in use being their bows and arrows. Instead, they cast their attention upon reading signs in nature, and living in forests appropriated by the Ministry of Magic.
  
Centaurs also seem to favour nature over technology, the extent of their tools visibly in use being their bows and arrows. Instead, they cast their attention upon reading signs in nature, and living in forests appropriated by the Ministry of Magic.
   
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They are territorial creatures by nature, as [[Rubeus Hagrid]] mentioned in [[1995]], upon seeing a herd of centaurs in the Forbidden Forest, whose land was being consistently reduced, and that they might revolt against the Ministry as a result. Later the same year, they proclaimed that even Hagrid was "no longer welcome" within "their" forest, as he had "forfeited the friendship of the centaurs," and that their "tolerance was waning" (in reference to Hagrid's half-brother, [[Grawp]], whom Hagrid was hiding in the forest at the time)<ref name="OP" />.
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They are territorial creatures by nature, as [[Rubeus Hagrid]] mentioned in [[1995]], upon seeing a herd of centaurs in the Forbidden Forest, whose land was being consistently reduced, and that they might revolt against the Ministry as a result. Later the same year, they proclaimed that even Hagrid was "no longer welcome" within "their" forest, as he had "forfeited the friendship of the centaurs," and that their "tolerance was waning" (in reference to Hagrid's half-brother, [[Grawp]], whom Hagrid was hiding in the forest at the time).<ref name="OP" />
   
 
Centaurs do have a sense of honour, being unwilling to harm the young, as the herd within the Forbidden Forest refused to harm Hagrid due to the young Harry Potter and [[Hermione Granger]] accompanying him at the time. However, this patience and generosity can wane, as later they saw Harry and Hermione deliberately lead [[Dolores Umbridge]] into the forest to "use" the centaurs to eliminate her; this, along the fact that both teenagers are nearing their adulthood, led the herd to attempt to attack the two.
  
Centaurs do have a sense of honour, being unwilling to harm the young, as the herd within the Forbidden Forest refused to harm Hagrid due to the young Harry Potter and [[Hermione Granger]] accompanying him at the time. However, this patience and generosity can wane, as later they saw Harry and Hermione deliberately lead [[Dolores Umbridge]] into the forest to "use" the centaurs to eliminate her; this, along the fact that both teenagers are nearing their adulthood, led the herd to attempt to attack the two.
   
 
===Abilities===
  
===Abilities===
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Centaurs do not use wands for magic, but are known to be well-versed in magical healing, [[Divination]], archery, and [[Astronomy]]. Centaurs burn herbs such as [[mallowsweet]] and [[sage]] to refine their stargazing findings. In fact, the centaur [[Firenze]] taught Divination at Hogwarts, starting in the 1995–1996 school year.<ref name="OP">{{OOTP}}</ref>
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Centaurs do not use wands for magic, but are known to be well-versed in [[Healing magic|magical healing]], [[Divination]], archery, and [[Astronomy (class)|Astronomy]]. Centaurs burn herbs such as [[mallowsweet]] and [[sage]] to refine their stargazing findings. In fact, the centaur [[Firenze]] taught [[Divination (class)|Divination]] at Hogwarts, starting in the 1995–1996 school year.<ref name="OP">{{OOTP}}</ref> They also can perform non-verbal magic while duelling, as shown when [[Torvus]] duelled against [[Jacob's sibling]] without a wand or an arrow.<ref name="HM">{{HM}}{{HM}}</ref>
   
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== Habitat ==
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==Habitat==
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[[File:Centaurs (Concept Artwork for the HP5 film 02).jpg|left|thumb|236x236px|Centaurs in the woods]]
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[[File:Centaurs (Concept Artwork for the HP5 film 02).jpg|236x236px|thumb|left|Centaurs in the woods]]
   
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Centaurs are forest-dwelling, and, in each country where colonies exist, the wizarding authority has set aside land exclusively for their use.<ref name="FB">{{FB}}</ref> One such [[Forbidden Forest Centaur colony|colony]] exists in the [[Forbidden Forest]], at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. However, centaurs have their own methods of concealment and avoid contact with both wizards and witches and [[Muggle]]s, as they are not fans of humans. They generally live in herds of ten to fifty individuals.
 +
Centaurs are forest-dwelling, and, in each country where colonies exist, the wizarding authority has set aside land exclusively for their use.<ref name="FBR">{{FB|R}}</ref> One such [[Forbidden Forest Centaur colony|colony]] exists in the [[Forbidden Forest]], at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. However, centaurs have their own methods of concealment and avoid contact with both wizards and witches and [[Non-magic people|Muggles]], as they are not fans of humans. They generally live in herds of ten to fifty individuals.
   
 
==Relationship with wizardkind==
  
==Relationship with wizardkind==
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{{Quote|You have a human on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?"|Bane and other centaurs consider helping human beneath them|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}Starting in [[1811]], centaurs were offered "[[Being]]" status, when [[Grogan Stump]] decreed that a "being" was "any creature that has sufficient intelligence to understand the laws of the magical community and to bear part of the responsibility in shaping those laws." However, they declined because of the associations with other creatures, such as [[vampire]]s and [[hag]]s, that "being" status would give them. The [[merpeople]] made the same decision a year later.<ref name="FB" />
 +
{{Quote|You have a human on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?|Bane and other centaurs consider helping humans beneath them|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}Starting in [[1811]], centaurs were offered "[[Being]]" status, when [[Grogan Stump]] decreed that a "being" was "any creature that has sufficient intelligence to understand the laws of the magical community and to bear part of the responsibility in shaping those laws." However, they declined because of the associations with other creatures, such as [[vampire]]s and [[hag]]s, that "being" status would give them. The [[merpeople]] made the same decision a year later. Subject teaching material thus notes on why they are classed as 'Beasts' and that they should be treated with great respect.<ref name="FBR" />
   
 
Despite being highly intelligent creatures, centaurs were still officially classified as of "near-human intelligence" by the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] in the mid-1990s, per the text of [[Law Fifteen B]], as laid down by the [[Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures]]. Centaurs take this phrase to be a great insult, as [[Dolores Umbridge]] found out the hard way, as they find that "[their] ''intelligence, thankfully, far outstrips'' [humans']."<ref name="OP" />
  
Despite being highly intelligent creatures, centaurs were still officially classified as of "near-human intelligence" by the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] in the mid-1990s, per the text of [[Law Fifteen B]], as laid down by the [[Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures]]. Centaurs take this phrase to be a great insult, as [[Dolores Umbridge]] found out the hard way, as they find that "[their] ''intelligence, thankfully, far outstrips'' [humans']."<ref name="OP" />
   
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[[File:Centaurs Take Dolores OotP.png|thumb|249x249px|Centaurs attacking a Ministry of Magic official after she called them filthy half-breeds]]
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[[File:Centaurs Take Dolores OotP.png|249x249px|thumb|Centaurs attacking a Ministry of Magic official after she called them filthy half-breeds]]
   
 
A [[Centaur Liaison Office]] still exists in the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]]'s [[Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures]], though no centaur has ever used it. In fact, the phrase "Being sent to the Centaur Office" has become an in-joke at the Ministry, meaning that the person in question is about to be sacked. A centaur was also represented in the [[Fountain of Magical Brethren]] at the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]], at least before the fountain's destruction during the battle between Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort.
  
A [[Centaur Liaison Office]] still exists in the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]]'s [[Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures]], though no centaur has ever used it. In fact, the phrase "Being sent to the Centaur Office" has become an in-joke at the Ministry, meaning that the person in question is about to be sacked. A centaur was also represented in the [[Fountain of Magical Brethren]] at the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]], at least before the fountain's destruction during the battle between Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort.
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==Known centaurs==
  
==Known centaurs==
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<gallery orientation="portrait" spacing="medium" widths="105">
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<gallery widths="105" orientation="portrait" spacing="small" position="center">
 
08.jpg|[[Bane]]
  
08.jpg|[[Bane]]
 
Firenzeinharrypotter.jpg|[[Firenze]]
  
Firenzeinharrypotter.jpg|[[Firenze]]
 
Centauro.jpg|[[Magorian]]
  
Centauro.jpg|[[Magorian]]
 
Magnus.png|[[Magnus]]
  
Magnus.png|[[Magnus]]
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CentaursHagrid.jpg|[[Ronan]]
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Torvus.png[[Torvus]]
  
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Torvus_-_Hogwarts_Mystery.png|[[Torvus]]
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
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*[[Torvus' father]]
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  ⚫
==See also==
  ⚫
*[[Forbidden Forest Centaur colony]]
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
  
==Behind the scenes==
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[[File:Centaurs (face close up - conceptual artwork).jpg|225px|thumb|A centaur's face in the films]]
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[[File:Centaurs (face close up - conceptual artwork).jpg|225px|thumb|A Centaur's face in the [[Harry Potter (film series)|films]]]]
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[[File:Centaurs (whole body - conceptual artwork).jpg|225px|thumb|right|A Centaur from the movies]]
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[[File:CentaurPM.jpg|thumb|A Centaur as depicted on {{PM}}]]
 
*In the books, Centaurs are described as they are in traditional Greek myths, with the back-end of a horse, but an ordinary human face and torso in their upper parts. In the films, however, their human faces are more equine-like, like an exact cross between horse and human. They are covered in hair, the same as their horse halves, with long protruded faces, and long pointy ears.
  
*In the books, Centaurs are described as they are in traditional Greek myths, with the back-end of a horse, but an ordinary human face and torso in their upper parts. In the films, however, their human faces are more equine-like, like an exact cross between horse and human. They are covered in hair, the same as their horse halves, with long protruded faces, and long pointy ears.
 
*Despite the fact that the [[Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test]] establishes them to exist, female centaurs have yet to be physically seen in any ''Harry Potter'' media.
  
*Despite the fact that the [[Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test]] establishes them to exist, female centaurs have yet to be physically seen in any ''Harry Potter'' media.
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*A Pottermore riddle consisting of an early Pottermore concept art of a Centaur was added to the Pottermore insider on [[16 October]] [[2014]]. It is still unknown who this centaur is.<ref>[http://insider.pottermore.com/2014/10/come-and-play-trick-or-treat-with.html]</ref>
  
*A Pottermore riddle consisting of an early Pottermore concept art of a Centaur was added to the Pottermore insider on [[16 October]] [[2014]]. It is still unknown who this centaur is.<ref>[http://insider.pottermore.com/2014/10/come-and-play-trick-or-treat-with.html]</ref>
 
*In {{FB}}, [[Newton Scamander|Newt Scamander]] describes that Centaurs refuse to wear any clothing. In the films, [[Magorian]] wears pieces of jewellery, shown in detail in the book {{HPV|CR}}.
  
*In {{FB}}, [[Newton Scamander|Newt Scamander]] describes that Centaurs refuse to wear any clothing. In the films, [[Magorian]] wears pieces of jewellery, shown in detail in the book {{HPV|CR}}.
  +
*[[Rowan Khanna]], a history buff, wanted to ask a centaur about the 1811 controversy of not accepting the Being status as they were fascinated by it, but neither Jacob's sibling, [[Barnaby Lee|Barnaby]] nor [[Nymphadora Tonks|Tonks]], understood their obsession.
   
 
==Appearances==
  
==Appearances==
 
{{Imagecat|Images of Centaurs}}
  
{{Imagecat|Images of Centaurs}}
  +
[[File:CentaurWU.png|thumb|A Brown Centaur as seen on {{WU}}]]
 
*{{PS}} {{1st}}
  
*{{PS}} {{1st}}
 
*{{PS|F}}
  
*{{PS|F}}
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*{{PM}}
  
*{{PM}}
 
*{{HPV|CR}}
  
*{{HPV|CR}}
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*{{FBC}} {{Mention}}
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*{{FBC}}
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*{{COG}} (mentioned only)<ref>https://www.pottermore.com/news/watch-the-first-trailer-for-fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald</ref>
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*{{COG}} {{Mention}}<ref>https://www.pottermore.com/news/watch-the-first-trailer-for-fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald</ref>
 
*{{HM}}
  
*{{HM}}
  +
*{{WU}}
   
 
==Notes and references==
  
==Notes and references==
 
{{Reflist}}
  
{{Reflist}}
−  
⚫
==See also==
  
⚫
*[[Forbidden Forest Centaur colony]]
  
   
 
{{Creatures by classification}}
  
{{Creatures by classification}}
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[[it:Centauro]]
  
[[it:Centauro]]
 
[[pl:Centaur]]
  
[[pl:Centaur]]
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[[pt:Centauro]]
 
[[ru:Кентавр]]
  
[[ru:Кентавр]]
 
[[fi:Kentauri]]
  
[[fi:Kentauri]]
 
[[nl:Centaur]]
  
[[nl:Centaur]]
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[[Category:Battle of Hogwarts participants]]
  
[[Category:Battle of Hogwarts participants]]
 
[[Category:Centaurs|Centaurs]]
  
[[Category:Centaurs|Centaurs]]
 
[[Category:Creatures from Great Britain]]
  
[[Category:Creatures from Great Britain]]
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[[Category:Creatures from Greece]]
  
 
[[Category:Forbidden Forest]]
  
[[Category:Forbidden Forest]]
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[[Category:XXXX Creatures]]
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[[Category:Muggle-known creatures]]

Revision as of 19:23, 21 December 2019

Hand pointing right transparent Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Wizards Unite & Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.
As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

"Forest-dwellers who have the torso of a human but the body of a horse, and who are gifted in Divination."
— Description of centaurs[src]

A Centaur is a magical creature whose head, torso, and arms appear to be human and are joined to a horse's body. They are, however, their own individual species, and thus are not half-breeds. They also have a rich history and are known for being naturally talented in Healing magic, Divination and Astronomy.

Despite possessing 'human intelligence,' centaurs are classified as Beasts by the British Ministry of Magic, at their own request, as they were unhappy at having to share Being status with Hags and Vampires, known dark creatures.[6]

Description

Physical appearance

"And into the clearing came — was it a man, or a horse? To the waist, a man, with red hair and beard, but below that was a horse's gleaming chestnut body with a long, reddish tail."
— Description of a centaur[src]
Centaur WB F5 CentaurPortrait Illust 100615 Port

A centaur's general appearance

Centaurs (whole body - conceptual artwork)

The full body of a Centaur

Like horses, centaurs can come in a variety of colours, ranging from deep black to white. A centaur by the name of Firenze had white-blonde hair, a body light in colour, and possessed astonishingly blue eyes. Magorian on the other hand possessed black hair and was chestnut in colour. Centaurs have the body of a horse, and the torso, arms, and head of a human. Also Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil found the centaur Firenze physically attractive.

Centaurs are not in fact half-breeds, but an entirely different species on their own. They are not very pleased to be insulted, particularly where their lineage is concerned, as Dolores Umbridge found out to her cost. 

Centaurs are also natural born Seers, in particular the Centaur Firenze who taught alongside Sybill Trelawney in Divination class at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Mannerisms

"Never try an' get a straight answer out of a centaur. Ruddy stargazers. Not interested in anythin' closer'n the moon."
— Rubeus Hagrid[src]

Centaurs are known to be gifted in Divination. Indeed, the centaurs of the Forbidden Forest regularly made vague allusions to seeing the future, as when the centaur Firenze told Harry Potter that they were fated to meet again, and when he and Bane spoke of the "intermission" of sorts, between the First and Second Wizarding Wars.[3] He also mentioned to his class at Hogwarts, that centaurs spend years trying to master their particular art of divining the fates.[7]

Centaurs on the whole seem also to be rather proud of their species, which was evident in their testiness whenever anyone even accidentally alluded to them being "used" or in any way employed by humankind, as when Firenze was chastised for allowing Harry Potter to ride to safety on his back, after the young wizard encountered Lord Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest — his fellow centaurs considered allowing such a thing tantamount to becoming a 'common' mule.[3]

Centaurs

A herd of centaurs armed with bows and arrows, their primary weapons

In 1995, they attempted to murder Firenze for his decision to "enter into human servitude," which was seen as a great and base betrayal.[7] Centaurs also decided to be placed in the Beast Division instead of the Being Division in the British Ministry of Magic archives, because they wished to not be associated with hags and vampires, whom the Ministry designates "Beings".[6]

Centaurs also seem to favour nature over technology, the extent of their tools visibly in use being their bows and arrows. Instead, they cast their attention upon reading signs in nature, and living in forests appropriated by the Ministry of Magic.

They are territorial creatures by nature, as Rubeus Hagrid mentioned in 1995, upon seeing a herd of centaurs in the Forbidden Forest, whose land was being consistently reduced, and that they might revolt against the Ministry as a result. Later the same year, they proclaimed that even Hagrid was "no longer welcome" within "their" forest, as he had "forfeited the friendship of the centaurs," and that their "tolerance was waning" (in reference to Hagrid's half-brother, Grawp, whom Hagrid was hiding in the forest at the time).[7]

Centaurs do have a sense of honour, being unwilling to harm the young, as the herd within the Forbidden Forest refused to harm Hagrid due to the young Harry Potter and Hermione Granger accompanying him at the time. However, this patience and generosity can wane, as later they saw Harry and Hermione deliberately lead Dolores Umbridge into the forest to "use" the centaurs to eliminate her; this, along the fact that both teenagers are nearing their adulthood, led the herd to attempt to attack the two.

Abilities

Centaurs do not use wands for magic, but are known to be well-versed in magical healing, Divination, archery, and Astronomy. Centaurs burn herbs such as mallowsweet and sage to refine their stargazing findings. In fact, the centaur Firenze taught Divination at Hogwarts, starting in the 1995–1996 school year.[7] They also can perform non-verbal magic while duelling, as shown when Torvus duelled against Jacob's sibling without a wand or an arrow.[8]

Habitat

Centaurs (Concept Artwork for the HP5 film 02)

Centaurs in the woods

Centaurs are forest-dwelling, and, in each country where colonies exist, the wizarding authority has set aside land exclusively for their use.[6] One such colony exists in the Forbidden Forest, at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. However, centaurs have their own methods of concealment and avoid contact with both wizards and witches and Muggles, as they are not fans of humans. They generally live in herds of ten to fifty individuals.

Relationship with wizardkind

"You have a human on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?"
— Bane and other centaurs consider helping humans beneath them[src]

Starting in 1811, centaurs were offered "Being" status, when Grogan Stump decreed that a "being" was "any creature that has sufficient intelligence to understand the laws of the magical community and to bear part of the responsibility in shaping those laws." However, they declined because of the associations with other creatures, such as vampires and hags, that "being" status would give them. The merpeople made the same decision a year later. Subject teaching material thus notes on why they are classed as 'Beasts' and that they should be treated with great respect.[6]

Despite being highly intelligent creatures, centaurs were still officially classified as of "near-human intelligence" by the Ministry of Magic in the mid-1990s, per the text of Law Fifteen B, as laid down by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Centaurs take this phrase to be a great insult, as Dolores Umbridge found out the hard way, as they find that "[their] intelligence, thankfully, far outstrips [humans']."[7]

Centaurs Take Dolores OotP

Centaurs attacking a Ministry of Magic official after she called them filthy half-breeds

A Centaur Liaison Office still exists in the Ministry of Magic's Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, though no centaur has ever used it. In fact, the phrase "Being sent to the Centaur Office" has become an in-joke at the Ministry, meaning that the person in question is about to be sacked. A centaur was also represented in the Fountain of Magical Brethren at the Ministry of Magic, at least before the fountain's destruction during the battle between Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort.

Centaurs have also been known to save wizards from harm, one instance being Firenze saving Harry Potter, when Lord Voldemort was in the forest, though this was highly looked down upon as centaurs were not supposed to interfere with "what is to come."

When Harry Potter and Hermione Granger ended up leading Dolores Umbridge into the Forbidden Forest, a group of centaurs appeared with some of them carrying off Dolores while the rest were scared away by Grawp in an event known as the Skirmish in the Forbidden Forest. It was mentioned that Albus negotiated for Dolores' release when he was rehired by the Ministry of Magic.

The centaur herd in the Forbidden Forest also fought against the Death Eaters in the Battle of Hogwarts.

Known centaurs

See also

Behind the scenes

Centaurs (face close up - conceptual artwork)

A Centaur's face in the films

CentaurPM

A Centaur as depicted on Pottermore

  • In the books, Centaurs are described as they are in traditional Greek myths, with the back-end of a horse, but an ordinary human face and torso in their upper parts. In the films, however, their human faces are more equine-like, like an exact cross between horse and human. They are covered in hair, the same as their horse halves, with long protruded faces, and long pointy ears.
  • Despite the fact that the Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test establishes them to exist, female centaurs have yet to be physically seen in any Harry Potter media.
  • In Greek mythology, female centaurs are called centaurides, and though they are not mentioned in early Greek literature and art, they do appear occasionally in later antiquity.[9]
  • The word Centaur (Κένταυρος, Kentauros in Ancient Greek), is generally regarded as being of obscure origin.
  • A Pottermore riddle consisting of an early Pottermore concept art of a Centaur was added to the Pottermore insider on 16 October 2014. It is still unknown who this centaur is.[10]
  • In Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt Scamander describes that Centaurs refuse to wear any clothing. In the films, Magorian wears pieces of jewellery, shown in detail in the book Harry Potter: The Creature Vault.
  • Rowan Khanna, a history buff, wanted to ask a centaur about the 1811 controversy of not accepting the Being status as they were fascinated by it, but neither Jacob's sibling, Barnaby nor Tonks, understood their obsession.

Appearances

Wiki
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CentaurWU

A Brown Centaur as seen on Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  2. ↑ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "PS15" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World
  5. ↑ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  8. ↑ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery'Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
  9. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaurs
  10. ↑ [1]
  11. ↑ https://www.pottermore.com/news/watch-the-first-trailer-for-fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald
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