PHILYRIDES
The Story of The Name
Philyrides
In a time long past, there was born a half-human, half-horse, a child of an ocean nymph Philyra.
His arrival into the world was marked by solitude, separated from his parents he was left alone to survive. One only thing his mother gave him was a name, she named him Chiron.
Soon, Apollo — the god of truth and prophecy, the Sun and light, healing, archery, poetry, music, and dance — found Chiron and took him in to raise as his own.
Unlike others of his kind, the little centaur did not have a violent nature. His adopted father recognised the potential within the young creature and with Apollo's wisdom as his guide, Chiron immersed himself in the arts and sciences. The little creature was taught medicine, music, archery, poetry, law and prophecy; soon he developed into a peaceful and intelligent centaur who excelled in every discipline and became later recognised as "the wisest and the most just of all the centaurs”.
Chiron continued to impart his knowledge to young talents nurturing them with the same care and wisdom that Apollo had bestowed upon him, and brought up some of the most admired heroes of all time. Among them was Achilles, the formidable Greek warrior renowned for his valor in the battle of Troy.
Another notable pupil was Asklepios, the pioneering herbalist and surgeon considered the father of medicine and revered as a hero in Greek mythology; his legacy lives on in the serpent-entwined staff that remains the emblem of the modern medical profession.
Chiron also guided Hercules, the immortal hero famed for slaying the Nemean Lion and completing the twelve labours, heroic feats that symbolize the spiritual challenges faced by humanity.
Chiron as well instructed Jason, the leader of the Argonauts on their quest to recover the Golden Fleece. Chiron's profound knowledge of the cosmos enabled him to guide Jason, interpreting celestial signs and advising on the stars to navigate by in order to secure the timeless treasure.
To them, he was a mentor and a tutor, a father and a friend. Though his work often remained hidden from the eyes of the world, yet so vital it was in laying the foundation for the greatest feats humanity would ever witness.
While Chiron bore his own name, innate to his time he was often referred to as a son of his mother — Philyrides.