| Onocentaur |
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| Description | Gallery | Bibliography | Manuscripts |
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Onocentaur Latin name: Onocentaurus Other names: Honocentar, Onoscentaurus, Uncor, Unocentaurus A beast with the upper body of a man and the lower body of an ass
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| General Attributes |
The onocentaur has the upper body of a man and the lower body of an ass. The upper part is rational; the lower part is exceedingly wild. |
| Allegory/Moral |
The onocentaur is a symbol of male lust. The two-part nature of the beast symbolizes the hypocrite who speaks of doing good but actually does evil; Philippe de Thaon says that man is rightly called man when he is truthful, but an ass when he does evil. |
| Sources (chronological order) |
Isidore of Seville [7th century CE] (Etymologies, Book 11, 3:39): The onocentaur has its name from appearing to be half man and half ass. |
| Illustration |
The onocentaur is usually depicted much like the classical Centaur, carrying or using a bow, or carrying a club. It is often shown together with the siren; in British Library, Sloane MS 278 (f. 47r) both are shown together in the water, apparently attacking sailors in a ship. |
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