Asclépios

In the Greek Mythology, Asclépios (in Greek old Ἀσκληπιός / Asklêpiós ), wire of Apollo, is a hero who will become the god of the medicine.

Its Roman equivalent is Esculape.

Myth

He is the son of Apollo and Coronis. Whereas it is pregnant of the god, it misleads this last with the mortal Ischys. Apollo, Master of the divination, perceive the truth, which is also reported to him by a corbel. It then sends his sister, Artémis, pourfendre the infidel of its arrows. Taken pity, Apollon leaves the child the body of his mother who is consumed on the Bûcher. It carries the Asclépios young person at the Centaure Chiron, which raises it and teaches the art of the cure to him.

He is married with Épione, of which he has six girls (Hygie, Panacée, Méditrine, Acéso, Iaso and Églé) and three wire (Machaon, Podalire and Télesphore), which have like him it art of medicine. He reigns on the city Thessalie of Trikka.

Its art reaches such a level then that it tries ressusciter deaths: according to the Ériphyle (lost part of Stésichore), it is about Lycurgue and Capanée, two of the Seven against Thèbes - or of Hippolyte, wire of Thésée, at the pseudo Ératosthène. To punish it of sound Hybris, Zeus strikes down it. Furious, Apollon massacres the Cyclops S. realizing thereafter of although Asclépios had brought to the men, Zeus made of him a god and places it among stars in the form of the constellation of the Serpentaire.

Worship

As of the traditional age, Asclépios is venerated like a god. Its two principal centers of worship are Trikka and Épidaure in Argolide, where its worship eclipses that of Apollo. In its sanctuary of Épidaure, it practices a medicine by the dreams: the incubation. The patients, duly purified, must spend the night in the temple; during their sleep, the god dictates the ordinance necessary to them or directly cures the sick body in concerning. Miraculous cures ( ἰάματα / iámata ) gives place to Ex-voto S described by Pausanias.

Asclépios is also venerated with Delphes as of fifth century BC and with Athens after the “plague” of 430 - 429 av. J. - C.: a statue of worship is imported of Épidaure as of the Paix of Nicias, which puts an end to the Peloponnesian War. Sophocle, already priest of a hero healer, Amynos, plays a big role in the establishment of the son of Apollo in Athens: the tragedy is even famous to have accommodated the god in his residence. Asclépios is then initiated with the Mystères of Éleusis, and Asclépeia (or Épidauria) is positioned near the celebration of the mysteries in the Calendrier attic.

It corresponds to the Roman Esculape and the Egyptian Imhotep. Its principal attribute is a stick around whose a snake is rolled up: often confused with the Caduceus of Hermes, is the symbol of medicine today.

Epithets, attributes & sanctuary

Its favorite animals: the cock, the snake, the dog.
Its attributes : the stick, the Caduceus and cut it.

Random links: