Chiron

In Greek mythology, Chiron (Pronounced Kai-RON/ˈkaɪrən/; also Cheiron or Kheiron; Greek: Χείρων "hand") was held to be the superlative centaur amongst his brethren. Chiron was notable throughout Greek mythology for his youth-nurturing nature. His personal skills tend to match those of Apollo, his foster father (sometimes along with Artemis); medicine, music, archery, hunting, prophecy. His parents were Cronus and Philyra.

Physical appearance

Although a centaur, Chiron's physical appearance often differs somewhat from other centaurs, demonstrating his status and heritage. In traditional Greek representations of Chiron his front legs are human, rather than equine, this is in contrast to the traditional representation of centaurs,which have the entire lower body of a horse. This clearly sets Chiron apart from the other centaurs, making him easily identifiable. This difference may also have highlighted Chiron's unique lineage, being the son of Cronus. Chiron is often depicted carrying a branch with dead hares he has caught hanging from it. Chiron is also often depicted wearing clothes, demonstrating he is more civilised and unlike a normal centaur (the only other occasional exceptions to this rule are the centaurs Nessus and Pholus).

Chiron (hypothetical moon)

Chiron (Greek: Χείρων) is the name given to a supposed moon of Saturn sighted by Hermann Goldschmidt in 1861. It has since been determined that no such moon exists.

Hermann Goldschmidt announced the discovery of the ninth moon of Saturn in April 1861, which, he said, orbited between Titan and Hyperion. Goldschmidt's discovery was never confirmed, and Chiron was never seen again.

In 1898, William Henry Pickering discovered Phoebe, which is now considered the ninth moon of Saturn. Strangely, in 1905, Pickering believed that he had discovered another moon of Saturn, which, he reported, orbited the planet between Titan and Hyperion. He called this new moon Themis. Themis, like Chiron, was never sighted again.

An object, now classified as a centaur, which was discovered in 1977, is named 2060 Chiron.

See also

External links and references

Chiron (journal)

Chiron. Mitteilungen der Kommission für Alte Geschichte und Epigraphik des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts (English: Chiron: Correspondence of the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy in the German Archaeological Institute) is an academic journal on ancient history. It is edited by the Munich-based Kommission für Alte Geschichte und Epigraphik of the German Archaeological Institute.

The journal was established in 1971. In both 2007 and 2011 the journal received an "INT1" ranking (internationally recognised with high visibility) from the European Reference Index for the Humanities. An issue appears once per year, generally in December. Each volume includes a list of dissertations in ancient history completed in Germany in the relevant year.

Until 2005, Chiron was published by Verlag C. H. Beck; in 2006 it was acquired by Walter de Gruyter.

References

External links