Many people are familiar with the famous symbol of medicine. It features a staff with a serpent wrapping around it. This iconic has many iterations, but it’s most often attributed to the Ancient Greek myth of Asclepius, also known as Asklepios.<\/p>\n
A demigod hero, Asclepius was a revered figure in Ancient Greece. He became the Greek god of medicine, healing, and doctors. His ability to heal the sick made him one of the most beloved and influential gods to mortals. The story of Asclepius is one of determination and service. It’s a tale that continues to inspire, resonating the most in the world of healthcare.<\/p>\n
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There are a couple of different stories about how Asclepias came into the ancient world. However, most accounts agree that he was the son of Apollo and a mortal woman. As a result, he was born as a demigod.<\/p>\n
His father, Apollo, was one of the famous twelve Olympians<\/a>. A significant deity in the Greek Pantheon, many recognize Apollo for many feats. In Ancient Greece, he was the god of music, archery, dance, and truth. However, many also saw him as a god of healing. That connection is a crucial piece to the story of Asclepias.<\/p>\n In most accounts, Asclepias’ mother was Coronis, sometimes spelled Koronis. She was a mortal<\/a> Thessalian princess and the daughter of Phlegyas, the King of the Lapiths. Apollo reportedly loved her.<\/p>\n One version of the tale says that Apollo purposely impregnated Coronis. However, another says that Asclepius was an illegitimate child. In this version of events, Coronis gave birth and abandoned Asclepius near Epidaurus.<\/p>\n In another version, the events surrounding Asclepius’ mother are much bleaker. Some scholars recount a tale of infidelity. Coronis fell for mortal man named Ischys, which enraged Apollo enough to send his sister, Artemis<\/a>, to kill her.<\/p>\n While the events surrounding the fate of Coronis is up for debate, there is one thing that all version of the story agrees on: Coronis was not around to raise Asclepius. She died, almost taking Asclepius with her. However, Apollo<\/a> jumped into action and cut him from his dying mother’s womb as she lay on a funeral pyre.<\/p>\n Apollo then took the motherless Asclepius to Chiron, a centaur, to look after him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Apollo requested that centaur Chiron<\/a> teach Asclepius the art of medicine as he raised him on Mt. Pelion. His teachings had a massive impact on the young Asclepius. By the time he reached adulthood, his healing skills had surpassed his teacher and father.<\/p>\n It wasn’t long until Asclepius became a powerful healer and hero to humans. Not only did he heal sicknesses, but Asclepius reportedly brought people back from the dead. One story says that used the blood of Medusa<\/a> given to him by Athena.<\/p>\n The temple of Asclepius, called asclepeions, appeared to honor the demigod<\/a>. Humans flocked to the temples to cure their ailments. Some of the most prominent temples were in Epidaurus, Trikala, and the island of Eros<\/a> and Kos. Asclepius spread cures of the sick through dreams. As a result, it became standard practice for the sick to sleep in the asclepeion temples.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In most depictions, Asclepius is a bearded, bare-chested man wrapped in a long cloak. His identifying feature is the staff he carries. The staff is nearly as tall as he is. Wrapping around the wood is a serpent.<\/p>\n The serpent-wrapped staff is the one valid symbol of medicine, and it continues to resonate today. There are a few iterations of the emblem. For example, the most commonly seen version is the Caduceus. The Caduceus looks like the rod of Asclepius. But a couple of notable differences make it unique. Instead of one serpent, the Caduceus usually has two wrapping around the staff and looking at one another. The staff itself also features two prominent wings. According to lore, this short staff was carried by Hermes<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Caduceus is sometimes used in healthcare settings, but the rod of Asclepius is a more accurate symbol in connection to Greek Mythology.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Asclepius did more than just heal and revive the sick. He also married and bore children. His wife was Epione, the goddess of soothing pain. With Epione, he had eight children. The most famous offspring of Asclepius was Hygea<\/a>, also known as Hygeia or Hygieia. Hygea was the goddess of health and cleanliness, and was the inspiration for the word “hygeine.”<\/p>\n Other notable children include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Iaso<\/strong>, the goddess of recuperation from illness His sons names were Podalirius, Telephoros, and Aratus.<\/p>\n His children continued with the art of medicine and healing, and his descendants were known as Asclepiads. One famous Asclepiad, Machaon, even helped Menelaos during the Trojan War<\/a>. However, the most recognizable Asclepiad is, without a doubt, the father of medicine himself, Hippocrates.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Despite all the good that Asclepion was doing, his actions did not favor his reputation among the gods. His power did not go unnoticed. A demigod was suddenly healing and reviving mortals, which directly impacted the actions of several gods.<\/p>\n Take the Ancient Greek god Hades, for example. Hades was the god of the Underworld who passed judgment on souls looking to enter Elysian fields. When Asclepius burst onto the scene, his acts of healing dramatically reduced the number of people dying. Hades<\/a> had fewer and fewer souls to welcome to the Underworld, creating a massive conflict between the god and demigod.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nLearning the Art of Healing<\/h3>\n
Asclepius Appearance and Symbolism<\/h3>\n
The Life of Asclepius<\/h3>\n
\nAceso<\/strong>, the goddess of the healing process
\nPanacea<\/strong>, the goddess of universal remedy
\nAegle<\/strong>, the goddess of good health<\/p>\nJealousy of the Gods<\/h3>\n
The Death of Asclepius<\/h3>\n