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ASCLEPIUS
Asclepius was the Greek god of medicine and healing. He was the result of the union of Apollo and Princeess Coronis. Apollo had saved Asclepius from the womb of Coronis as she laid on her funeral pyre. Thus, the name Asclepius in Greek means "to cut open" which may refer to Coronis's premature delivery of her son in the hands of Apollo. However, his name could also refer to his mastery of surgery, a very important aspect of medicine. Asclepius trained under Chiron, the centaur famous for mentoring many different heroes, who taught him the art of medicine. Asclepius realized his natural talent in the field of medicine and dedicated his life to nursing the sick. He became a renowned physician, and many with fatal diseases or wounds sought him for his miracle treatment. Asclepius became so skillful in medicine that he even succeeded in healing the dead. When Asclepius began to bring back mortals from the dead, many deities grew alarmed, not only at the disruption of natural order, but also a threat to their own immortality which segregated them from the
mortals. Thus, at the complaint of many gods and
goddesses and his own fear, Zeus struck Asclepius
with his lightning bolt, destroying the greatest
physician who had ever lived.
Asclepius wields his staff called the "staff of
Asclepius" (shown at right). One snake
intertwines with the rod. The staff of
Asclepius is often confused with
the caduceus (shown on left), the
staff of Hermes which features two
snakes coiled around one rod. There
are many different theories on the
symbolism behind the snake
and the staff. However, there is no
evidence that points to a certain conclusion on
the origin of the staff.
It is said that Apollo sent his twin sister Artemis to murder Princess Coronis after she had found a new mortal lover at Apollo's absence. Once she was killed, she was placed on a funeral pyre, but Apollo felt pity for the baby
baby in Coronis's
womb and removed
him so that he could
survive. That unborn
baby was Asclepius.