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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):
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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
