InGreek mythology,Asbolus (Ancient Greek: Ἄσβολον or Ἄσβόλη means "sooty" or "carbon dust"[1][2]) was acentaur. He was aseer and Hesiod calls him anaugur (oionistes οἰωνιστής) who readomens in the flight of birds.[3][4][5]
Asbolus foresaw the Centaurs' battle against theLapiths atPirithous's wedding, and unsuccessfully attempted to prevent them from attending.
The above is mentioned inOvid'sMetamorphoses,
...Asbolus the prophet who had warned,
Though no one heard him, all his friends
To give way, not to fight [the Lapithae]. He cried to Nessus,
"You need not run; you shall be saved till that
Fine day Hercules' arrow strikes your back."
He appears again whenHeracles came to visit the centaurPholus. Pholus opened a jug of wine for him which belonged to all the Centaurs; Asbolus saw Pholus do this and brought the other Centaurs, who, as it was proved by Pirithous's wedding, were unused to the drink. It resulted in a bloodbath in which Pholus andChiron, as well as Nessus, met their deaths at Heracles's hands. It is said that Asbolus himself was crucified by Heracles's arrows.[2][8]
Asbolus's name was given to8405 Asbolus, aminor planet in theouter Solar System. It belongs to the class ofcentaurs, whose orbits lie between Jupiter and Neptune.[3]
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