Chiron

• one of the Centaurs, distinguished for his knowledge of plants, medicine, and divination, son of Saturn and Philyra (hence, Philyrides Chiron, Verg. G. 3, 550), the tutor of Aesculapius (Ov. M. 2, 630 sq.), Hercules, Achilles, Jason, etc.; at last translated to heaven as a constellation, Hyg. Praef. and Fab. 274; id. Astr. 2, 38; Serv. ad Verg. G. 3, 91; 3, 550; 4, 270; acc. Gr. Chirona, Ov. M. 6, 126.—As a constellation, Luc. 9, 536.—
• II Hence,
• • A Chīrōnīus or -ēus, a, um, adj., named after Chiron (the physician and botanist).—So subst.: chīrōnīa, ae (sc. herba), a name of several plants: pyxacanthos, Plin. 24, 14, 77, § 125: panaces, id. 25, 4, 13, § 32: ampelos, id. 25, 4, 16, § 34: vitis nigra, id. 23, 1, 17, § 27: Chironium vulnus, Cels. 5, 28, 5; App. Herb. 22: Chironion, a plant, i. q. Centaurion, q. v., Plin. 25, 6, 31, § 66.—*
  • B Chīrōnĭcus, a, um, adj., pertaining to Chiron: ars, Sid. Ep. 2, 12 fin.

(Χείρων).) The most celebrated of the Centaurs, and son of Cronos and the nymph Philyra. Dreading the jealousy of his wife, Rhea, the god is said to have transformed Philyra into a mare, and himself into a steed; and the offspring of this union was Chiron, half man and half horse. This legend first appeared in the poem of the Gigantomachia, and it is also noticed by Pindar (Pyth. iii. 1, foll.). Probably the praise of Chiron by Homer (Il. xi. 832), for his love of justice, led to the view of him as the offspring of the god who ruled over the golden race of men. To Chiron was intrusted the rearing and educating of Iason and his son Medeus, Heracles, Aesculapius, and Achilles. Besides his knowledge of the musical art, which he imparted to his heroic pupils, he was also skilled in surgery, which he taught to the last two of this number. In the contest between Heracles and the Centaurs, Chiron was accidentally wounded in the knee by one of the arrows of the hero. Grieved at this unhappy event, Heracles ran up, drew out the arrow, and applied to the wound a remedy given by Chiron himself. But in vain; the venom of the hydra was not to be overcome. Chiron retired to his cave longing to die, but unable on account of his immortality, till, on his expressing his willingness to die for Prometheus, he was released by death from his misery. According to another account, he was, on his prayer to Zeus for relief, raised to the sky and made the constellation of Sagittarius. Chiron was the husband of Naïs or Chariclo, and their daughter Eudeïs was the mother of Peleus (Apollod.xiii. 12). In art, Chiron is represented as of a noble and intellectual cast of countenance; while the other Centaurs exhibit brutal and sensual traits. See Böttiger, Vasengemälde, iii. p. 144, etc., and the article Centauri.

• Paus. 5.5.10, Paus. 5.19.9
• offspring of Cronus and Philyra: Apollod. 1.2.2
• breeds Actaeon to be a hunter: Apollod. 3.4.3
• makes an image of him: Apollod. 3.4.3
• driven by the Lapiths from Mount Pelion, dwells at Malea: Apollod. 2.5.4
• accidentally wounded by Herakles he wishes to die, and dies, Prometheus consenting to be immortal in his stead: Apollod. 2.5.4, Apollod. 2.5.11, Apollod. 1.3.51
• wounded by Herakles, washes his wound in river Anigrus: Paus. 5.5.10
• receives the infant Aesculapius and teaches him the healing art: Apollod. 3.10.3, Apollod. 3.10.3
• saves Peleus from the centaurs: Apollod. 3.13.3
• advises Peleus to seize Thetis: Apollod. 3.13.4
• gives him an ashen spear: Apollod. 3.13.5
• receives Achilles from Peleus to rear: Paus. 3.18.12
• comes to soothe grief of Achilles: Paus. 5.19.9
• Precepts of Chiron, poem ascribed to Hesiod: Paus. 9.31.5