Asclepius, Essay Example

Born in the ancient city of Greece, Asclepius was thought of as both a healer and a potential threat of the gods. Asclepius was born to the mortal, Coronis and the God of Music and Archery, Apollo. Asclepius was very close to dying a very horrible death by being burned to death while still within his mother’s womb. However, Asclepius was able to survive thanks to being cut out of his mother’s womb before she died at the hands of his aunt, Artemis and the bonfire she died atop of. Apollo could never let his son die for his mother’s misdeeds so Apollo rescued the boy. Later, Apollo ordered Hermes to take his son, Asclepius to the centaur of knowledge and medicine, Chiron.

Chiron raised Asclepius as his own son and taught him the various healing arts and the knowledge of medicine. During Asclepius’ lessons and teachings at the foot of Chiron, Asclepius learned how to use herbs in order heal common things from battle wounds to diseases not to mention sleeplessness. Asclepius encountered a snake that would appear violent as well as ready to attack. However, this particular snake showered Asclepius with the knowledge of medicine that rivaled that of Chiron not to mention his father, Apollo.

It is an unmoot point that Asclepius, even though he was taught by Chiron, knew more about medicine and the intricate ways of using it than even Apollo himself. As a symbol of friendship between Asclepius and the snake, Asclepius made a staff that consisted of a rod with a single snake on it. This staff was a technical symbol that signified and acknowledged Asclepius as the God of Medicine. Asclepius was not just known for his benevolence and his healing powers, but his abilities to be able to bring the dead back into the world of the living. There were others who wanted to learn the powers of healing and medicine, this inspired Asclepius to open medical schools, Asclepions, in his temples in order to pass his love of medicine and healing on to his fellow protégés.

The Greek people at that time were astounded by the fact that just about every injury that they suffer can be healed instantly, there were tales of men who went to war and didn’t suffer so much as a single scratch because praying to Asclepius healed their wound worn bodies. It can be argued that some of the Greek people slept in the Asclepions whenever they were sick and/or an affliction because they believed that the Asclepions had powers of healing which could cure them.

Within the temple walls lied Asclepidae, holy healing priests who had the powers of healing and could cure almost anything. The healing arts were taught by the Asclepidae fathers to their sons so as to carry on the tradition of the god, Asclepius. In light of this, there were some of the Olympian Gods who had come to fear Asclepius because of his power to revive the dead and keep the good people of Greece from dying.

Zeus and Hades were the two main Gods who saw Asclepius’ powers as a threat, with no one dying, Hades would govern the underworld. Zeus’ primary fear lied in the fact that someone could use Asclepius gifts for their own nefarious deeds even going so far as to bring the enemies of the Gods back from the dead. To prevent this, Zeus destroyed and killed Asclepius. In so doing, Zeus felt reassured that no one would be able to use Asclepius’ powers in order to bring back an old enemy that could be the end of all godkind like some of the Titans for example.

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