Asclepius or Asklepios is one of the most important figures in Greek mythology, and undoubtedly one of the most beloved of the Ancients.
Throughout history, he has been recognized as one of the greatest physicians of all time, an exceptional healer and an inspiration to many therapists.
In fact, the very myth of Asclepius is linked to the emergence of medicine as we know it today.
The cult of Asclepius
The cult of Asclepius, whether as a god or as a deified man, was one of the most popular in ancient Greece. He was actually honored in the North or South of the country.
Towards the last centuries of Greek civilization, Asclepius literally conquered the Mediterranean. His cult was spread far and wide.
Its sanctuaries, known asasklepieion, were in some ways like our modern hospitals. Having one was a source of prestige for a city.
Of all these asklepieion, the most famous was clearly Epidaurus, founded around 600 BC. Here, the priests of Asclepius treated people from the four corners of the known earth. Sometimes, the sick even slept on the spot (more precisely, on the temple’s sacred floor). They hoped to meet Asclepius in their dreams, who would then heal them.
Birth and apogee of a God? No, a man!
Mythology presents Asclepius as the son of the god Apollo and a mortal woman named Koronis. So he wasn’t a god in the strict sense of the word, but he was already starting out with certain “advantages”. This promised him a special destiny.
However, when Apollo learned that his affair was going to be the fruit of a child, he sent one of his disciples to Koronis to get rid of her.
The story of Asclepius could have ended there… Except that, when he saw his offspring die in the womb, Apollo felt guilty and saved the infant.
He then decided to entrust his education to an old Centaur named Chiron. It was from this wise man thatAsclepius learned the arts of botany, healing and medicine.
Through divine talent and assiduous practice, he literally became the greatest physician of all time. The skills he acquired during his lifetime far surpassed those of any of his predecessors. But also that of those who would succeed him…
A disturbing mortal…
At the height of his fame, Asclepius took part in adventures as diverse and legendary as those of the Argonauts and Hercules. He worked with some of the most powerful gods, and even developed a remedy which, it is said, would give eternal life to those who used it.
All this is recounted in the works of classical literature, notably Homer, Pindar and Hesiod. These are the authors who tell us of the tragedy that befell Asclepius at the end of his life…
His healing skills had in fact become so great that he was able to heal more and more people, to the point that the gods noticed a “drop in attendance” in the Underworld. Anxious to preserve the balance they had established (and, let’s face it, their superior status), the Olympian gods decided that Asclepius’ actions had to stop. In his merciless judgment, Zeus struck him with a bolt of lightning that killed him instantly.
Conclusion on Asclepius
In conclusion, Asclepius is an apt representation of the excellence towards which all physicians must strive. An emblem of choice for the medical profession, and a mythological figure who will live on in legends for a long time to come.
In fact, Asclepius represents the perfect doctor, the one who can cure all ills and who never falters. In this sense, it’s not just caregivers who can worship him. Patients, too, can relate to this symbol, the symbol of the possible miracles of medicine.
If you are in Greece, don’t miss the sites dedicated to Asklepios: Asklepeion in Kos and the sanctuary at Epidaurus.
