Chiron

Who is Chiron?

Chiron was an intelligent, civilised and kind centaur from Greek Mythology. He was not the same as most centaurs, actually not directly related to them but sired from Cronus and Philyra. He is the oldest known educator referenced in Western literature. He married Chariclo, they had three daughters and one son. In various versions of the Greek Myths, he saved the lives of Peleus, Achilles and Prometheus.

Tutor to Apollo and Artemis, he taught them healing and peace as well as the normal philosophical and academic subjects. He also trained or assisted in the education of Ajax, Aeneas, Theseus, Heracles, Actaeon, Asclepius, Patroclus and Jason (who led the Argonauts).

Books from Greek Mythology, classical books, plays and several modern films have him as a prominent feature or character. These include Hesiod, other Greek historians, Thomas Eliot, Dante's "Inferno", "The Centaur" by John Updike, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians", "Hercules: The Animated Series" by Disney, and "Hercules: the Legendary Journeys" television series .

Chiron appears on the emblems of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Royal Canadian Army Veterinary Corps, Delta Lambda Phi and the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

We can see him every night in the sky constellation "Centaurus" and also a minor planet (circling the sun between Saturn and Uranus) called "Chiron". He is the most logical source of the constellation "Sagittarius" but it is not known why he appear in the constellations of the sky twice.

We have his words to guide us (translated into modern English):

"Decide no suit, until you have heard both sides speak".

Chiron