a famous personage of antiquity; styled by Plutarch, in his dialogue on music, "The wise Centaur." Sir Isaac Newton places his birth in the first age after Deucalion's deluge, commonly called the Golden Age; and adds, that he formed the constellations for the use of the Argonauts, when he was 88 years old; for he was a practical astronomer, as well as his daughter Hippo: he may, therefore, be said to have flourished in the earliest ages of Greece, as he preceded the conquest of the Golden Fleece, and the Trojan war. He is generally called the son of Saturn and Philyra; and is said to have been born in Thessaly among the Centaurs, who were the first Greeks that had acquired the art of breaking and riding horses: whence the poets, painters, and sculptors, have represented them as a compound of man and horse; and perhaps it was at first imagined by the Greeks, as well as the Americans, when they first saw cavalry, that the horse and the rider constituted the same animal.

Chiron was represented by the ancients as one of the first inventors of medicine, botany, and chirurgery; a word which some etymologists have derived from his name. He inhabited a grotto or cave in the foot of Mount Pelion, which, from his wisdom and great knowledge of all kinds, became the most famous and frequented school throughout Greece. Almost all the heroes of his time were fond of receiving his instructions; and Xenophon, who enumerates them, names the following illustrious personages among his disciples: Cephalus, Euclepius, Melanion, Nestor, Amphiaraus, Peleus, Telamon, Meleager, Theseus, Hippolitus, Palamedes, Ulysses, Menelaus, Diomedes, Calchas and Pollux, Machaon and Podalirius, Antilochus, Eneas, and Achilles. From this catalogue it appears, that Chiron frequently instructed both fathers and sons; and Xenophon has given a short eulogium on each, which may be read in his works, and which redounds to the honour of the preceptor. The Greek historian, however, has omitted naming several of his scholars, such as Bacchus, Phoenix, Cocytus, Arytaeus, Jason, and his son Medeus, Ajax, and Proteus. Of these we shall only take notice of such as interest Chiron more particularly. It is pretended that the Grecian Bacchus was the favourite scholar of the Centaur: and that he learned of this master the revels, orgies, bacchanalia, and other ceremonies of his worship. According to Plutarch, it was likewise at the school of Chiron that Hercules studied music, medicine, and judicature; though Diodorus Siculus tells us, that Linus was the music-master of this hero. But among all the heroes who have been disciples of this Centaur, no one reflected so much honour upon him as Achilles, whose renown he in some measure shared; and to whose education he in a particular manner attended, being his grandfather by the mother's side. Apollo-dorus tells us, that the study of music employed a considerable part of the time which he bestowed upon his young pupil, as an incitement to virtuous actions, and a bridle to the impetuosity of his temper. One of the best remains of antique painting now existing, is a picture upon this subject, dug out of the ruins of Herculaneum, in which Chiron is teaching the young Achilles to play on the lyre. The death of this philosophic musician was occasioned, at an extreme old age, by an accidental wound in the knee with a poisoned arrow, shot by his scholar Hercules at another. He was placed after his death by Musaeus among the constellations, through respect for his virtues, and in gratitude for the great services which he had rendered the people of Greece. Sir Isaac Newton says*, *Chroton, in proof of the constellations being formed by Chiron p. 151., and Musaeus for the use and honour of the Argonauts, that nothing later than the expedition was delineated on the sphere; according to the same author, Chiron lived till after the Argonautic expedition, in which he had two grandsons. The ancients have not failed to attribute to him several writings; among which, according to Suidas, are precepts, ἀνάγκαις, in verse, composed for the use of Achilles; and a medicinal treatise on the diseases incident to horses and other quadrupeds, ἰατρικῆς; the lexicographer even pretends, that it is from this work the Centaur derived his name. Fabricius gives a list of the works attributed to Chiron, and discusses the claims which have been made for others to the same writings; and in vol. xiii. he gives him a distinguished place in his catalogue of ancient physicians.