Greek Gods of Healing
As you know, I’m in Greece, and now the conference is over I’m taking some time to travel around. I had a lot of fun organising my itinerary, and also took the time to read more about the history of Greece – which you can’t do without considering the Greek Gods and Ancient Greece.
Most people have heard of the big gods – Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Ares, Aphrodite, Athena etc (I’ve been reading Percy Jackson with my youngest recently, so I’m getting the contemporary urban fiction take on them). So this post is more in line with what I do on a daily basis supporting people with their health, and I will focus on the Greek Gods of Healing.
Apollo was the god in the pantheon associated with healing – he had the power to inflict illness and plagues, but also to heal epidemics. This has a nice correlation with homeopathy – that which can bring sickness, can also bring healing.
However it was Apollo’s son with a mortal princess, Asclepius who is more commonly associated with medicine and healing.
Asclepius will be most familiar through his staff, a rod with a single serpent twisted around, which is still used as a symbol of medicine. (Not to be confused with the caduceus, which is a staff with two serpents and wings, and was Hermes the messenger god’s symbol).
Asclepius was taught by the centaur Chiron, and was the God of Medicine and Healing. He was so skilled that he could bring people back from the dead, however this lead to Zeus killing him to restore the balance of life and death. Healing sanctuaries called Asclepieia were built throughout Greece as areas for holistic healing.
Asclepius had five daughters
Hygieia was the Goddess of Health and Cleanliness. This shows that the ancient Greek’s recognised the importance of preventative medicine – and the fact the word hygiene comes from her name is an every day reminder of care and cleanliness.
Panacea was the Goddess of Universal Health and Remedy, and had a substance that she used to heal the sick. Unfortunately in real life there is no universal cure that can heal all ailments.
Iaso was the Goddess of Recuperation from Illness and Aceso the Goddess of the Healing Process. Aegle, whose name means brightness, was the Goddess of Radiant Good Health, and their brother Telephorus was the God of Recuperation. These goddesses and god all reflect the fact that healing takes time.
The original Hippocratic oath referenced these gods and goddesses: “I swear, calling upon Apollo the physician and Asclepius, Hygeia and Panacea and all the gods and goddesses as witnesses, that I will fulfill this oath and this contract according to my ability and judgment.” And while the oath has changed, what these gods and goddesses stand for has not changed.
I’m hoping I have time to go to Epidaurus and visit the Sanctuary of Asclepius that is there, and perhaps I’ll learn more about the Greek Gods!