Chiron

Chiron is a figure from Greek mythology. He is the son of Cronus and the nymph Philyra, the wisest and justest of the Centaur race and the teacher of several heroes.

Description:
In most depictions, Chiron is quite different from other Centaurs. His front legs are human and he wears clothes, unlike others of his race. He is usually depicted carrying a branch with dead hares he has caught hanging from it.

Differences between Chiron and other centaurs may be due to a difference in lineage, as all of the other Centaurs were born of Ixion and Nephele.

Early Life:
Chiron was abandoned by his mother out of disgust soon after birth. He was then effectively adopted by the God Apollo, who taught him a variety of life skills. Apollo's sister Artemis approved of Chiron and also taught him.

Training Heroes:
Chiron is attributed with teaching and training a number of Greek heroes. These include: Asclepius, Aristaeus, Ajax, Aeneas, Actaeon, Caeneus, Theseus, Achilles, Jason, Peleus, Telamon, Perseus, Heracles, Oileus, and even Dionysus in some traditions.

Death:
One night while staying with his friend, the centaur Pholus, Heracles attempted to drink the sacred wine of the Centaurs. This led to a large battle, in which several centaurs were slain. Chiron, attempting to stop the fighting, was accidentally shot by a poison arrow from Heracles. As he was immortal, Chiron could not be killed by the poison and was instead doomed to live forever in pain. He pleaded to Zeus to end his life, and, taking pity on the centaur, Zeus did so, and placed the image of Chiron in the stars to honor him.