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; 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

• Hippocrates
• Medicine

External links

• Asclepius @ Wikipedia