CHIRON | BIOGRAPHY |
Created by Roy Thomas and Ernie Colón |
PERSONAL DATA
Aliases: Khiron
Identity: The general public believes Chiron to be a figment of myth
Occupation: Teacher and healer
Status: Active
Citizenship: Greek
Marital Status: Presumably single
Known Relatives: None
Base of Operation: Currently unknown; formerly Mount Pelion, Thessaly, Greece; formerly the Inn at the Worlds’ End; formerly the Wonderdome
Group Affiliation(s): The Centaurs; formerly one of the Dome Creatures
Gender: Male
Eyes: Gray
Hair: Brown
Distinguishing Features: Chiron has the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse
First Appearance: Arak, Son of Thunder #10 (June 1982): "The Last Centaur!"
Creators: Roy Thomas and Ernie Colón
OVERVIEW
Chiron the Centaur has gone down in Greek myth as the teacher of heroes and scholars such as Herakles, Achilles and Solon. Seemingly immortal, he has survived to modern times, where he for a short time served as Wonder Woman’s advisor and physician.
HISTORY
The wisest and the last remaining of the Centaurs, Chiron trained and educated many heroes and thinkers of antiquity; Herakles, Asclepius, Jason, Achilles and Solon being his star pupils. According to myth, Herakles killed Chiron with a poisoned arrow, which resulted in the creation of the star constellation known as the Sagittarius. This account has since proven false, and Chiron has since cheated death time and time again, seemingly immortal.
In the 6th century A.D., Chiron had taken the young would-be scholar Solon under wings, when he briefly encountered Dream’s raven Aristeas, who had temporarily taken on a human form. Influenced by Chiron’s teachings, Solon would grow up to become the chief magistrate of Athens and a true patron of democracy. [The Dreaming #25 (June 1998)]
In the 8th century A.D., Chiron met who he thought would be one of his star pupils, Arak Red-Hand, the Indian adventurer raised by Vikings. An arrow from a soldier of Byzantium seemed to end Chiron’s life, and Arak and his satyr companion Satyricus followed the centaur into Hades, the realm of the dead, where he was last seen crossing the river Styx. [Arak, Son of Thunder #10–12 (June–August 1982)]
But apparently, Chiron’s story did not end there. The centaur must have turned back to the land of the living before he had passed the point of return.
In modern times, Chiron was seen as one of the guests at the mysterious, other-dimensional Inn at the Worlds’ End. After riding out a mystical storm with other creatures, Chiron set off with Petrefax for new adventures. Their ways seem to have parted shortly thereafter, Petrefax journeying home while Chiron came into contact with Wonder Woman. [Sandman #51–57]
For a time, Chiron resided with other mythical creatures in Wonder Woman's Wonderdome, serving as a healer and advisor. His current whereabouts are unknown.
POWERS AND WEAPONS
Half human, half horse, Chiron embodies the best of two worlds. While possessing the stamina and the speed of a horse, he also has the skills of a warrior and the mind of a true scholar. He is also renowned for his skills as a surgeon and a healer.
Chiron has an extremely long lifespan and seems to have a regenerative ability that allows him to recover from most injuries.
CHRONOLOGY
For a definitive list of appearances of Chiron in chronological order click here