Torch: U.S. LXVIII Summer 2019 | Page 9

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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.