Asclepius

"The Famous 'Cure' of the Ancient World"
Forestier, A. (Amédée), d. 1930 (Artist)
Caton, Richard, 1842-1926 (Originator)

A priest of Asklepios and patient calling up the sacred snakes. (1906)
Illustrated London News

Link to New York Public Library

Content: "During the recent excavations of the Health Temple of Asklepios at Cos, the scene of Hippocrates' labours, a curious cist with a heavy marble lid was discovered. This is believed to have been the place where the priests kept the sacred snakes of Asklepios. In the center of the slab is a hole (see photograph on another page) through which the snakes went out and in. This Ophiseion, or place of the snakes, was let into the floor of a small sanctuary in which an altar of incense is supposed to have stood. There the priests brought their patients to sacrifice, and to offer sacred cakes to the serpents. On the walls were probably engraved health maxims and votive inscriptions of persons who had been cured."--printed on border.
Source Identifier: iln (Hades Legacy Identifier / Struc ID)
Statement Of Responsibility: "Drawn by A. Forestier from restorations by Dr. Richard Caton."--printed on border.

Ἀσκληπιοῦ, θυμίαμα, μάνναν.
Ἰητὴρ πάντων Ἀσκληπιέ, δέσποτα Παιάν,
θέλγων ἀνθρώπων πολυαλγέα πήματα νούσων,
ἠπιόδωρε, κραταιέ, μόλοις κατάγων ὑγίειαν,
καὶ παύων νούσους χαλεπὰς θανάτοιο τε κῆρας.
αὐξιθαλής κόρε, ἀπαλεξίκακ’, ὀλβιόμοιρε,
Φοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος κρατερὸν θάλος ἀγλαότιμον,
ἐχθρὲ νόσων, Ὑγίειαν ἔχων σύλλεκτρον ἀμεμφῆ,
ἐλθέ, μάκαρ, σωτήρ, βιοτῆς τέλος ἐσθλὸν ὀπάζων.

Asclepius, fragrance, manna, Healer of all, O Asclepius, master physician (lord Paean), charming the many (manifold) grievous ailments of mankind, gentle‐giver, mighty one, bring health by hard toil, and stopping diseases, dire death’s doom. O child growing with increase, repeller of evil, blessed one, strong shoot of Phoebus Apollo, illustrious in radiance, foe of diseases, having unblemished companion Health (Hygieia), come, O blessed saviour, granting the good end of life.”

‎- From the Orphic Hymn to Asclepius (fragment / translated) Hymn 67

‎This artwork portrays a sacred healing ritual within the ancient Greek Temple of Asclepius.... the god of medicine and divine restoration. In the scene, a priest and a patient stand before a steaming altar, invoking the sacred serpents of the sanctuary. These snakes contain the healing power of the god himself.
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‎The inscription upon the wall reads “Ζῆσον κατὰ φύσιν” .....“Live according to nature” .....a phrase that captures the essence of ancient Greek philosophy and medicine: that true healing comes from harmony with the natural order.
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‎Within these temples, patients sought both physical and spiritual renewal. They would purify themselves, offer incense, and sleep within the sacred chambers, awaiting dreams and visions from Asclepius that revealed cures or divine guidance. The serpents moving through the halls were not feared, but revered for their regeneration.
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‎Here healing was sacred.... illness was seen as disharmony between soul and cosmos, and recovery was a divine act of calling the spirit back into balance with the eternal order of life.