Hylonome

Hylonome is a female centaur in Greek mythology. She is known primarily through Ovid's Metamorphoses, where her tragic story is recounted. Unlike most centaurs, who are often portrayed as wild and uncivilized, Hylonome is depicted as beautiful, kind, and refined.

Hylonome's name is derived from the Greek words "hyle" (wood, forest) and "nomos" (law, custom, dwelling), suggesting a connection to the forests where centaurs reside.

Hylonome was deeply devoted to her husband, Cyllarus. She was described as taking great care in her appearance, adorning herself with flowers and herbs. Her love for Cyllarus was profound, and they were inseparable.

During the battle between the Lapiths and the Centaurs at the wedding feast of Pirithous, Cyllarus was fatally wounded by a spear. Hylonome, overcome with grief, took her own life by impaling herself on the same spear that killed her husband. Her suicide highlights the depth of her love and despair.

Hylonome stands out in mythology as a poignant example of love and devotion, contrasting with the more common depiction of centaurs as brutish and violent. Her story serves as a reminder that even within the wild world of mythology, there can be found profound expressions of human-like emotions.