The myth of Chiron, the healer

The myth of Chiron, unlike other myths, tells us about a wise, noble and skilled centaur, very different from other centaurs.. Let us remember that in Greek mythology centaurs were creatures with a human head and torso and the body of a horse. In general, they were impulsive and basically wild beings.

People say that The myth of Chiron is closely related to the professions of doctor and psychologist. In fact, the word “Chiron” etymologically means ‘skillful with the hands’ or ‘he who heals with the hands’. The word operating room is derived from this character.

However, He is also known as ‘the wounded centaur’, a symbol of someone who knows how to give help, but also ask for it at the right time. There is much that is human in the myth of Chiron. It emphasizes the importance of mutual recognition of vulnerabilities as a source of compassion.

The myth of Chiron

The story of Chiron begins with the titan Cronus arriving on Earth to search for Zeus. In his future, he encountered an oceanid named Philyra. Cronus became obsessed with her and began to harass her in an exaggerated way.

Desperate due to this harassment, Philira asked Zeus to turn her into a mare so that the annoying titan would leave her alone. However, Chronos He discovered the cunning of the oceanide and turned himself into a horse to rape her. Tormented by the situation, Filiria escaped and went to the Pelasgian mountains.

In that remote place she gave birth to her son. As soon as she saw it, Filira was scared, because she found a monster: a creature that was half man and half horse. Her solution was drastic: ask Zeus to turn her into a tree, who transformed her into a linden.

A noble centaur

Apollo and Athena took pity on the poor centaur and adopted him. Under his guidance, Chiron became a being gifted in medicine, wise and focused on alleviating the suffering of others. His great skill earned him the reputation of being the best doctor, so many came to him to alleviate his illnesses.

Chiron also saved a mortal hero, Peleus. He had been tricked by his lover’s husband into killing him and stealing the sword that Hephaestus had given him. After healing him, centaur and human became great friends.

This episode is linked to the story of Achilles, son of Peleus, immersed in ambrosia after being burned by his mother. However, Peleus became upset by the ritual that the woman, Thetis, was performing, and interrupted it before it finished. The only part of Achilles’ body that was left unprotected was the heel, giving rise to the famous myth.

Peleus gave his son to Chiron to educate him. The centaur noticed the unhealed burn on the boy’s heel, so he protected it with the heel bone of a giant.

A wounded centaur

The myth of Chiron says that he was once accidentally injured by Hercules., or Heracles, who was one of his great friends. The hero was fighting with other centaurs and accidentally shot one of his arrows at him, wounding one of his legs; more precisely, in the knee area.

The pain the centaur suffered was unbearable, but that was how he gained immortality. However, this wound never fully healed, nor did the pain. The creature begged the gods to let him die to alleviate his suffering.

The gods granted it to him, but Chiron did one last good deed: grant immortality to Prometheus to save him from his unspeakable suffering for bringing fire to humans. Before letting him go, the deities turned Chiron into a constellation to leave a reminder of the exemplary life he led throughout his years. And you, did you know this myth?

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