Chiron also Cheiron or Kheiron (Ancient Greek: Χείρων) is the immortal being of teaching and surgeons. He is a Centaur, child of Kronos and Philyra. Unlike the other centaurs, who are wild and violent, Chiron was famed for his wisdom and his great knowledge of medicine. He lived on Mount Pelion where he taught many famous heroes, such as Achilles, Peleus, Jason, and Heracles.[1][2]
Etymology[]
The word Χείρων "Chiron" means "hands"
Mythology[]
Early life[]
Soon after giving birth, Philyra was disgusted by the horse-like nature of Chiron and abandoned him in disgust. Left all alone while still too young to do much for himself, he was essentially orphaned and alone. This is when the god Apollo found him. Apollo then adopted the young centaur and taught him the art of medicine, prophecy, and music. Artemis in turn taught him the ways of archery and hunting. These two gods are credited with giving Chiron the characteristics that separate him from other and more brutish centaurs.
Teachings of Chiron[]
Being renowned in both medicine and fighting, Chiron took on many famous Greek heroes as students. Just a few of his students were Heracles, Ajax, Achilles, Theseus, Jason, Perseus, and even the god Dionysus.
Death[]
The death of Chiron is something that appears in the tales of Heracles. While shooting poisoned arrows at a group of wild and intoxicated centaurs, Heracles accidentally hit hit Chiron in the leg with one. Even though he was second only to Apollo in the ways of medicine, Chiron could not heal himself from this poison. Realizing his fate he renounced in immortality. Heracles then made a bargain with Zeus to trade Chiron's life for Prometheus'. Zeus agreed but took pity on his half-brother and put his body into the stars once he died. Chiron then became the constellation Centaurus.
In Popular Culture[]
- He is a major protagonist in Age of Mythology.
- He appears as a teacher in Camp Half-Blood, in the Percy Jackson and The Olympians, Heroes of Olympus, and Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan.
- He appears as 1971 Soviet cartoon The Labyrinth: Theseus' Deeds, voiced by Yakov Belenkiy. There, he is Theseus' teacher, giving him advice at the beginning of the cartoon, and later meeting him again, after Aegeus' suicide