Chiron

The "wisest and justest of all the centaurs," according to Homer’s Iliad.

His foster father Apollo taught the young centaur the art of medicine, herbs, archery, hunting, gymnastics, prophecy, and more importantly for our purposes, music.

One of the most common Roman depictions of Chiron is him teaching Achilles the lyre (see above fresco from Herculaneum, 1st century AD). His other students included such mythological heroes as: Asclepius, Aristaeus, Actaeon, Achilles, Jason, and Medus.

He is also mentioned in Geoffrey Chaucer’s poem "The House of Fame," written circa 1374 to 1385.

Ther herde I pleyen on an harpe

That souned bothe wel and sharpe,

Orpheus ful craftely,

And on his syde, faste by,

Sat the harper Orion,

And Eacides Chiron,

And other harpers many oon,

And the Bret Glascurion;

translated into modern English:

There I heard, playing on a harp

That sounded both loud and sharp,

Orpheus full skilfully,

And at his side, fast nearby,

Sat the harpist Arion,

And the Eacides, Chiron,

And other harpists many a one,

And the Breton Glascurion;