Sagittarius

The story

Sagittarius' mythological ancestor is most commonly Chiron — the wise centaur, teacher of heroes like Heracles and Asclepius. Unlike other centaurs, Chiron was not wild but wise; master of medicine, music, martial arts, and philosophy. One day he was accidentally wounded by Heracles' poisoned arrow; being immortal he couldn't die, and the wound wouldn't heal. Unable to bear endless pain, he traded with Prometheus: Chiron gave his immortality to Prometheus (to release Prometheus from the gods' torture chains), and chose to die himself. Zeus, honoring Chiron's sacrifice, placed him in the sky. In some versions Sagittarius is a different centaur, Crotus — so mythologists debate. The majority say Chiron.

Into the sky

Chiron's sacrifice (giving up immortality to escape eternal pain) was honored by Zeus by placing him in the sky. In the archer pose — shooting the arrow of knowledge to a distance.

Themes

• Chiron the centaur
• archer-sage
• half-human half-horse
• healer-teacher