In Greek mythology, Chiron (/ˈkaɪrən/ KY-rən; also Cheiron or
Kheiron; Greek: Î§ÎµÎ¯Ï Ï‰Î½ "hand") was held to be the superlative
centaur amongst his brethren since he was called the "wisest and
justest of all the centaurs".Chiron was notable throughout Greek
mythology for his youth-nurturing nature. 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. 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.Like satyrs, centaurs were notorious for being wild, lusty,
overly indulgent drinkers and carousers, violent when intoxicated, and
generally uncultured delinquents. Chiron, by contrast, was
intelligent, civilized and kind, because he was not related directly
to the other centaurs due to his parentage. He was the son of the
Titan Cronus and the Oceanid Philyra, and thus possible brother to
Dolops and Aphrus, the ancestor and eponym of the Aphroi, i.e. the
native Africans. Chiron lived predominantly on Mount Pelion; there he
married the nymph Chariclo who bore him three daughters, Hippe (also
known as Melanippe meaning the "black mare" or Euippe, "good mare"),
Endeïs, and Ocyrhoe, and one son Carystus. A different source also
stated that his wife was called Nais while a certain Aristaeus was
called his son.Like the other centaurs, Chiron was later expelled by
the Lapithae from his home; but sacrifices were offered to him there
by the Magnesians until a very late period, and the family of the
Cheironidae in that neighbourhood, who were distinguished for their
knowledge of medicine, were regarded as his descendants.
Kheiron; Greek: Î§ÎµÎ¯Ï Ï‰Î½ "hand") was held to be the superlative
centaur amongst his brethren since he was called the "wisest and
justest of all the centaurs".Chiron was notable throughout Greek
mythology for his youth-nurturing nature. 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. 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.Like satyrs, centaurs were notorious for being wild, lusty,
overly indulgent drinkers and carousers, violent when intoxicated, and
generally uncultured delinquents. Chiron, by contrast, was
intelligent, civilized and kind, because he was not related directly
to the other centaurs due to his parentage. He was the son of the
Titan Cronus and the Oceanid Philyra, and thus possible brother to
Dolops and Aphrus, the ancestor and eponym of the Aphroi, i.e. the
native Africans. Chiron lived predominantly on Mount Pelion; there he
married the nymph Chariclo who bore him three daughters, Hippe (also
known as Melanippe meaning the "black mare" or Euippe, "good mare"),
Endeïs, and Ocyrhoe, and one son Carystus. A different source also
stated that his wife was called Nais while a certain Aristaeus was
called his son.Like the other centaurs, Chiron was later expelled by
the Lapithae from his home; but sacrifices were offered to him there
by the Magnesians until a very late period, and the family of the
Cheironidae in that neighbourhood, who were distinguished for their
knowledge of medicine, were regarded as his descendants.
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