Asclepius

His Life• Son of Apollo and a mortal woman named Coronis (GM 50)

– Apollo kills Coronis for having an affair with a mortal man, but saves his unborn son (Asclepius)

• Two versions of his upbringing (GM 50):– 1. Live with Cheiron, the centaur, and learns the art of medicine and the chase

from him – 2. According to the Epidaurians, left on Mt. Titthion by Coronis and was

protected under Apollo,• learned the art of healing from Apollo and Cheiron• Revered as the founder of medicine (including surgery and use of drugs)

(GM 50)• Given two vials of the Gorgon Medusa’s blood which can raise the dead

or kill instantly by Athene (GM 50)• Sons: Machaon and Podalirius (both healers) in the Illiad

His Death and Resurrection

• Killed by Zeus with a thunderbolt when Hades complained of his raising a dead man (robbing Hades of a subject, but Zeus brings him back to life (GM 21, 50)

• Set in the stars by Zeus as the constellation Ophiochus (the Serpent Holder)

Images/Literature

• Known as the “healer of illness” (Shelmerdine)• Symbolized by the snake and believed to take the

form of a snake• Rod of Asclepius- entwined with a single serpent

on a branch• Depicted as a kindly bearded man holding a

serpent entwined staff• Usually seen standing or sitting with his staff• There are no vase paintings, only statues of him

Other Facts

• Lived among mortals, but regarded as a deity• Worshipped as hero first, then as a god (in the

late classical period)• Belief that he sent instructions of healing in

the form of dreams to his worshippers• Confusion over caduceus (connected with

Alchemy) versus staff of Asclepius as the symbol for medicine