How were centaurs made?

Centaurs, in Greek mythology, were typically described as creatures that were half-human and half-horse. Their origins vary in different stories; one popular account suggests they were born from Ixion, who was the king of the Lapiths, and a cloud created by Zeus, which took the shape of Hera. Another version indicates that they were the offspring of Apollo and a Thessalian princess, resulting in a race of beings that embodied both human intellect and animal instincts. Centaurs often symbolize the duality of human nature, representing the struggle between civilization and barbarism.