CHIRON IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Chiron was the wisest of centaurs in Greek mythology. A friend to many famous heroes, Chiron would also act as tutor to many of the most famous figures from Greek myths.
The Centaur Chiron
Chiron was a centaur of Greek mythology, meaning he was a half-man, half-horse figure; but Chiron was different to most of the other centaurs written about, for Chiron was civilised and learned whilst other centaurs were regarded as savages.
To explain the difference between Chiron and other centaurs it was said that Chiron had different parents than most other centaurs, for whilst most were considered the children of Ixion and Nephele, Chrion was named as a son of the Titan Cronus and the Oceanid Philyra. In mating with Philyra, Chiron took the form of a steed, hence why his child was born a centaur.
Being the son of the supreme deity of the day, Cronus, also ensured that Chiron was regarded as immortal.
To explain the difference between Chiron and other centaurs it was said that Chiron had different parents than most other centaurs, for whilst most were considered the children of Ixion and Nephele, Chrion was named as a son of the Titan Cronus and the Oceanid Philyra. In mating with Philyra, Chiron took the form of a steed, hence why his child was born a centaur.
Being the son of the supreme deity of the day, Cronus, also ensured that Chiron was regarded as immortal.
Chiron the Educated
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Chiron would become well versed in many different academic fields, including medicine, music, prophecy and hunting, and it was said by some that Chiron was the inventor of medicine and surgery. Such knowledge and “gifts” were commonly said to be given by the gods, and so it was said in some sources that Chiron was tutored by Artemis and Apollo, although others tell of Chiron simply studying and learning to gain all that he knew.
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Chrion Upon Mount Pelion
Chiron would reside upon Mount Pelion in Magnesia, where, in his cave, he studied and learned. Upon Mount Pelion, Chiron also found himself a wife, for Chiron would wed Chariclo, a nymph of Mount Pelion.
This marriage was said to have brought forth a number of offspring. One child was the daughter Melanippe, also known as Ocyrrhoe, who after being seduced by Aeolus, was transformed into a mare so that her father would not know that she was pregnant. Although, some tell of her transformation being a punishment after she went too far in using a prophetic abilities to reveal the secrets of the gods.
A son, named Carystus, was also born, with Carystus being regarded as a rustic god associated with the island of Euboea.
It was also said by some that Chiron was father to Endeis by Chariclo, although some name the father as Sciron. Endeis was famously the first wife of Aeacus, and mother of Peleus and Telamon.
Additionally, an unspecified number of nymphs were also born to Chiron and Chariclo, these nymphs being named the Pelionides.
This marriage was said to have brought forth a number of offspring. One child was the daughter Melanippe, also known as Ocyrrhoe, who after being seduced by Aeolus, was transformed into a mare so that her father would not know that she was pregnant. Although, some tell of her transformation being a punishment after she went too far in using a prophetic abilities to reveal the secrets of the gods.
A son, named Carystus, was also born, with Carystus being regarded as a rustic god associated with the island of Euboea.
It was also said by some that Chiron was father to Endeis by Chariclo, although some name the father as Sciron. Endeis was famously the first wife of Aeacus, and mother of Peleus and Telamon.
Additionally, an unspecified number of nymphs were also born to Chiron and Chariclo, these nymphs being named the Pelionides.
Chiron and Peleus
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Potentially, Chiron was the grandfather of Peleus, and there was a close association in the tales of Greek mythology between the two.
Peleus was staying in Iolcus when King Acastus’ wife, Astydameia, attempted to seduce the Argonaut. Peleus spurned the advances of Astydameia, and so she told her husband that Peleus had tried to rape her. Now Acastus could not simply kill his guest, for that was a crime that could bring down the vengeance of the Erinyes upon him, and so Acastus planned a method by which others could be blamed for Peleus’ death. Acastus and Peleus thus went hunting upon Mount Pelion, but overnight Acastus secretly took Peleus’ sword, hiding it away, and then abandoned Peleus as he slept. The plan was that the savage centaurs who resided upon Mount Pelion would find the unarmed Peleus and kill him. It was of course not an uncivilised centaur who discovered Peleus for it was Chiron who came upon the hero, and having restored his sword to him, Chiron welcomed Peleus into his home. It was also said that it was Chiron who told Peleus how the hero could make the Nereid Thetis his wife; and upon the centaur’s advice, Peleus tied up Thetis so no matter what shape she took she was still bound, and eventually Thetis agreed to be Peleus’ wife. |
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At the marriage of Peleus and Thetis, Chiron was amongst the guests, and the centaur presented to Peleus a spear made from ash, which had been polished by Athena and given its metal point by Hephaestus. This spear would later be owned by the son of Peleus, Achilles.
Achilles would be a famous student of Chiron, for when Thetis fled from Peleus’ palace, having been discovered trying to make her son immortal, Achilles was sent to Chiron to be raised, and as Chariclo acted as foster mother, Chiron taught Achilles in medicine and hunting.
Achilles would be a famous student of Chiron, for when Thetis fled from Peleus’ palace, having been discovered trying to make her son immortal, Achilles was sent to Chiron to be raised, and as Chariclo acted as foster mother, Chiron taught Achilles in medicine and hunting.
The Education of Achilles -
James Barry (1741–1806) - PD-art-100
The Students of Chiron
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Chiron had been a tutor to many heroes before he taught Achilles, and having welcomed the Argonauts to his home during their adventures, it was said that a number of these heroes had been taught by the centaur; the most famous student of Chiron amongst the Argonauts being Jason, who had been sent to Mount Pelion by his father, Aeson.
When Coronis was killed by Artemis, Apollo took the still unborn child, Asclepius from the womb of Coronis, and gave his son to Chiron and Chariclo to be raised. As he grew up, Asclepius was taught everything that Chiron knew about herbs, medicine and surgery, and this became the basis through which Asclepius became known as the Greek god of Medicine. Now it was commonly said that the skill of Asclepius exceed that of his teacher, but the medical skill of Chiron was sufficient to heal Phoenix, when Phoenix was blinded by his father Amyntor. All of the heroes taught by Chiron though had some understanding of advanced medicine. Now it was also said that Aristaeus received much of his knowledge of rustic arts and prophecy from Chiron, and that his son, Actaeon, was taught how to hunt by Chiron as well. |
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Patroclus, the lifelong friend of Achilles, was also tutored by Chiron at the same time as the son of Peleus, as perhaps was the cousin of Achilles, Telamonian Ajax. It is also said by some sources that the most famous of all Greek heroes, Heracles was also tutored by Heracles, although is not universally agreed upon, but cert ainly Heracles was involved in the death of Chiron.
The Education of Achilles -
Bénigne Gagneraux (1756–1795) - PD-art-100
The Death of Chiron
Now Chiron was said to be immortal, and yet still he died.
Heracles was being hosted by another civilised centaur Pholus, when the opening of a jar of wine attracted all the savage centaurs to Pholus’ cave. Heracles was forced to fight the wild centaurs off, and in the end he unleashed many of his poisoned arrows.
One such arrow passed through the arm of the centaur Elatus and entered the knee of Chiron. The poison of the Hydra was sufficient to kill any mortal, and indeed an arrowhead accidentally caused the death of Pholus, but Chiron was not a mortal, and so rather than dying, Chiron was wracked with unbearable pain.
Even with Heracles helping, Chiron was unable to cure himself, and for nine days Chiron suffered the pain. Then realising that there was but one way to end the pain, Chiron asked Zeus to remove his immortality, and taking pity on his kin, Zeus did so, and so Chiron died from his wound, and was subsequently placed amongst the stars as the constellation Centaurus.
Now some tell of how it was Heracles who went to his father to arrange for Chiron to give up his immortality, and in doing so struck a deal whereby Chiron died, and Prometheus was released from his eternal torture and imprisonment; although it is not exactly clear as to why Zeus would agree to such a deal, aside from the fact that Heracles was his favoured son.
Heracles was being hosted by another civilised centaur Pholus, when the opening of a jar of wine attracted all the savage centaurs to Pholus’ cave. Heracles was forced to fight the wild centaurs off, and in the end he unleashed many of his poisoned arrows.
One such arrow passed through the arm of the centaur Elatus and entered the knee of Chiron. The poison of the Hydra was sufficient to kill any mortal, and indeed an arrowhead accidentally caused the death of Pholus, but Chiron was not a mortal, and so rather than dying, Chiron was wracked with unbearable pain.
Even with Heracles helping, Chiron was unable to cure himself, and for nine days Chiron suffered the pain. Then realising that there was but one way to end the pain, Chiron asked Zeus to remove his immortality, and taking pity on his kin, Zeus did so, and so Chiron died from his wound, and was subsequently placed amongst the stars as the constellation Centaurus.
Now some tell of how it was Heracles who went to his father to arrange for Chiron to give up his immortality, and in doing so struck a deal whereby Chiron died, and Prometheus was released from his eternal torture and imprisonment; although it is not exactly clear as to why Zeus would agree to such a deal, aside from the fact that Heracles was his favoured son.
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