Centaur Statue

Address:

Iolcus Municipal Unit

P.C. 38500, Anakasia Square

The Centaur Statue is located in the square of Anakasia, at the corner of Agia Irini, at an altitude of 240m at the western foothills of Pelion, about 4km northeast of the center of Volos. It was designed by the well-known sculptor Vassilis Voulgaris, sponsored by the Heracles Group, and its unveiling took place in 2010 in the presence of representatives of the twinned, with the former Municipality of Iolkos, Municipalities of Navelli of Italy and Vrhnika of Slovenia.

The creation and placement of the statue in Anakasia is related to the prominent position of Pelion in mythology as the land of the Centaurs, mythological creatures that were depicted as hippocentaurs - with horse legs and tail, and with human head and hands. Their existence is due to the attempt of the king of Lapithon, Ixion, to forcibly consort with the goddess Hera.

In order to punish him, Zeus the god of the sky and thunder, made a cloud (Nephele) assume Hera’s form. Ixion fell into the trap and mated with Nephele. From their union, Centaurus was born. In his turn, Centaurus mated with the Magnesian mares, and a race of half-horse and half-man creatures was born.

One of them, Centaurus Chiron, son of Saturn and Oceanis, was a superior figure in mythology, and was worshipped in Pelion for his knowledge of botany, medicine, astronomy, natural sciences, philosophy, and music, as well as being the teacher of great heroes and personalities such as Hercules, Jason, Achilles, Dioscoures and Asclepius.