Like satyrs, centaurs were notorious for being wild, lusty, overly indulgent drinkers and carousers, violent when intoxicated, and generally uncultured delinquents. Chiron was known for his knowledge and skill with medicine, and thus was credited with the discovery of botany and pharmacy, the science of herbs and medicine. His personal skills tend to match those of his foster father Apollo, who taught the young centaur the art of medicine, herbs, music, archery, hunting, gymnastics, and prophecy, and made him rise above his beastly nature. Biography Chiron, Peleus and infant AchillesĬhiron was notable throughout Greek mythology for his youth-nurturing nature. In Greek mythology, Chiron ( / ˈ k aɪ r ə n/ KY-rən also Cheiron or Kheiron Ancient Greek: Χείρων, romanized: Kheírōn, lit.'hand') was held to be the superlative centaur amongst his brethren since he was called the 'wisest and justest of all the centaurs'. Hippe, Endeïs, Ocyrhoe, Carystus, Aristaeus
Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, Zeus The Education of Achilles by Chiron, fresco from Herculaneum, 1st century AD (Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples)
