Asclepius

Asclepius (/æsˈkliːpiəs/; Greek: Ἀσκληπιός, Asklēpiós [asklɛːpiós]; Latin: Aesculapius) was a god of medicine in ancient Greek religion and mythology.

Description

Asclepius represents the healing aspect of the medical arts.

He was married to Epione, goddess of soothing of pain.

His daughters are:

• Hygieia ("Hygiene", the goddess/personification of health, cleanliness, and sanitation)
• Iaso (the goddess of recuperation from illness)
• Aceso (the goddess of the healing process)
• Aglæa/Ægle (the goddess of beauty, splendor, glory, magnificence, and adornment)
• Panacea (the goddess of universal remedy).

He was one of Apollo's sons, sharing with Apollo the epithet Paean ("the Healer").

The rod of Asclepius, a snake-entwined staff, remains a symbol of medicine today.

Those physicians and attendants who served this god were known as the Therapeutae of Asclepius.

Asclepius was associated with the Roman/Etruscan god Vediovis.

See also

• Epione
• Hippocrates
• Medicine

External links

• Asclepius @ Wikipedia