CHIRON (wise centaur and tutor of heroes)
Monster · centaur, figure from Greek mythology
- Parents
- Cronus, Philyra
- Siblings
- Zeus, Dolops
- Consorts
- Chariclo
- Children
- Hippe, Carystus, Endeïs, Ocyrhoe, Chariclus
- Haunts and cult places
- Pelion
- In the sources
- 69 ancient passages
His form was a striking double, half horse and half god, a body that moved with a well-known hoof-beat yet possessed a soul deeply loving to men.1,2,3,4,5 Born of an ancient deity who had disguised himself as a horse, Chiron was an old sage dwelling in a humble cavern at the foot of sacred Mount Pelion.2,3,6,7,5,8,9,10,4
In his cave, which was associated with the daughters of the Centaur, Chiron served as a prophet skilled in arts inspired by Phoebus and was highly admired for his expertise in healing.11,12,13,14 He was credited with the invention of botany and possessed the power to grant healers of hot plagues to worthy men, though he himself was once defeated by a disease affecting the cattle.15,10,16 Apollo entrusted the infant Aesculapius to his care, and Chiron raised him, teaching the skills of healing and hunting, including how to distribute healing medicines gently and create remedies.17,12,18
Chiron’s role as a teacher extended to many heroes, beginning with his rescue of Peleus from the centaurs who had captured him.19 He advised Peleus to capture Thetis despite her ability to change forms and later presented him with a spear made from an ashen shaft cut on the mountain top of Pelion.20,21,22,23 When Thetis gave birth to a son, Chiron loudly prophesied that the child would be a dazzling light to Thessaly and named the infant Achilles because the child had refused to nurse.14,24 Chiron accepted the infant into his care, raising him and serving as his teacher, while water nymphs tended the boy within the dwelling.24,25,26,27
Beyond Achilles, Chiron raised the young Iason in the wooded area of Pelion and delivered the son of Pelias from his father's ambush, helping him escape the violence of fire and the terrible biting of teeth.12,28,29 He enabled the son of Pelias to marry one of the Nereids and allowed him to see the seats of the kings of heaven and sea, fulfilling the destiny ordained for him by Zeus.29 Chiron also raised the infant Medeus in the mountains and trained Actaeon to become a skilled hunter, while he restored the sight of Phoenix who had been blinded by his father.30,31,32 He commanded that Orpheus join Aeson's son in his labors, showing his influence over the great expeditions of the age.33
Chiron’s life was marked by a deep connection to the divine, for he was held worthy to share the home of the gods and took pride in having a pupil of divine origin.34,35 Heracles eventually presented Chiron to Zeus to die in Prometheus's place, ending the life of a sage who had guided so many to greatness.36,37
The codex facts behind this entry
Chiron is described as a half-beast creature. Aratus, Phaenomena ¶17 +3 Chiron, though immortal, consented to die in Prometheus's stead. Apollodorus 2.5.11 +1 Chiron is an old sage skilled in archery who lives in a humble dwelling. Seneca, Thyestes act 4 ¶11 +1
Appearance
Chiron is described as having a body that is half horse and half god. Argonautica 2 ¶87 +1
Powers
Chiron was highly admired for his expertise in the art of healing and was described as a prophet skilled in arts inspired by Phoebus. Diodorus 4.12 +2 Chiron was defeated by the disease affecting the cattle. Georgics 3.525 Chiron is credited with the invention of botany. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 7.57 ¶4
In the myths
Chiron accepted the infant Achilles into his care, raised him, and served as his teacher. Apollodorus 3.13.6 +9 Chiron presented Peleus with a spear made from an ashen shaft that he had cut on a mountain top in Mount Pelion. Apollodorus 3.13.5 +4 Chiron was entrusted with the infant Aesculapius by Apollo and raised and educated him, teaching him the skills of healing and hunting, including the creation of healing remedies and how to distribute healing medicines gently. Apollodorus 3.10.3 +2 Cronus conceived Chiron while disguised as a horse, and Philyra gave birth to Cheiron after her union with the transfigured deity. Argonautica 2 ¶87 +1 Chiron raised the young Iason in the wooded area of Pelion. Pindar, Nemean 3 ¶10 +1 Cheiron raised the infant Medeus in the mountains. The Theogony ll. 993-1002 Cheiron commanded that Orpheus join Aeson's son in his labors. Argonautica 1 ¶4 The arrow that wounded the monster also harmed the god Cheiron. Sophocles, Trachiniae 705-722 Cheiron enabled the son of Pelias to marry one of the Nereids. Pindar, Nemean 4 ¶9 Chiron witnessed the marriage of Nereus' daughter and nursed and raised her son. Pindar, Nemean 3 ¶10
Fate
Chiron wished to die but could not, so Prometheus offered to be immortal in his stead. Apollodorus 2.5.11 +1 Heracles unwittingly killed the Centaur Cheiron with a shot from his bow. Diodorus 4.12 Chiron was freed from human affairs and deemed worthy to live with the gods. Pausanias 5.19.9 Chiron wished to die in a cave but could not because he possessed immortality. Apollodorus 2.5.4
