The Battle of the Centaurs by Michelangelo can be considered as the first reflection of the Antique in his art. However his sources of inspiration for this early relief have been discussed very rarely. In view of the author the Torso Gaddi of the Uffizi has been one of the major stimuli for the very young artist. The artist modelled with a certain freedom some of the main figures of the relief after the Greek torso showing a muscled and powerful body of a centaur. This inspiration can be seen especially in the figures of King Theseus, Hercules and Eurytus, which are identified in the essay using the relevant texts by Boccaccio and Ovid. Two Roman sarcophagi and one relief of the Arch of Constantine are of importance for three further figures. Michelangelo might have known them by drawings. Furthermore the impact of the Torso can be seen in a small wax sculpture, some drawings and later in some figures of the famous draft for the Battle of Cascina and in the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel.