Editing Asclepius (section)

== Sacred places and practices ==
[[File:Kos museum mos01.JPG|thumb|Asclepius (center) arrives in [[Kos]] and is greeted by [[Hippocrates]] (left) and a citizen (right), [[mosaic]], 2nd–3rd century AD]]

The most ancient and the most prominent [[asclepeion]] (or healing temple) according to the geographer of the 1st century BC, Strabo, was situated in [[Trikala]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Asclepeion of ancient Trikki {{!}} Municipality of Trikala|url=http://trikalacity.gr/en/building/asclepeion-ancient-trikki/|website=Municipality of Trikala|date=14 June 2017 }}</ref> The 1st century AD [[Pool of Bethesda]], described in the [[Gospel of John]], chapter 5, was found by archaeologists in 1964 to be part of an asclepeion.<ref name="OnSiteArchaeologicalPlan">[http://www.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/sbf/escurs/Ger/10quadroBig.jpg An archaeological diagram of the layout – the diagram displayed at the location itself – is visible at this link] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604114333/http://www.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/sbf/escurs/Ger/10quadroBig.jpg |date=4 June 2011 }}.</ref><ref name="MurphyOConnor">[[Jerome Murphy-O'Connor]], ''The Holy Land'', (2008), page 29</ref> One of the most famous temples of Asclepius was at [[Epidaurus]] in north-eastern [[Peloponnese]], dated to the fourth century BC.<ref name="Edelstein 1998. p. 243">Edelstein, Ludwig and Emma Edelstein. ''Asclepius: a Collection and Interpretation of the Testimonies''. Vol. 2. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1998. p. 243</ref> Another famous asclepeion was built approximately a century later on the island of [[Kos]],<ref name="Edelstein 1998. p. 243" /> where [[Hippocrates]], the legendary "father of medicine", may have begun his career. Other asclepieia were situated in [[Gortys (Arcadia)|Gortys]] (in Arcadia), and [[Pergamum]] in [[Asia (Roman province)|Asia]].

[[File:"Ausschließlich Fundstücke und Objekte von der Akropolis von Athen" werden hier ausgestellt. 17.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|Votive relief of Asclepius, Epione and Hygieia. Mid-4th cent. BC, [[Acropolis Museum]], [[Athens]].]]

From the fifth century BC onwards,<ref>Wickkiser, Bronwen. ''Asklepios, Medicine, and the Politics of Healing in Fifth-century Greece: Between Craft and Cult''. Johns Hopkins Press, 2008. p. 106</ref> the cult of Asclepius grew very popular and pilgrims flocked to his healing temples ([[Asclepieion|Asclepieia]]) to be cured of their ills. Ritual purification would be followed by offerings or sacrifices to the god (according to means), and the supplicant would then spend the night in the holiest part of the sanctuary– the abaton (or adyton). Any dreams or visions would be reported to a priest who would prescribe the appropriate therapy by a process of interpretation.<ref name="Sigerist_63ff">{{Harvnb|Sigerist|1987|pp=63ff}}</ref> Some healing temples also used sacred dogs to lick the wounds of sick petitioners.<ref name="farnell">Farnell, Chapter 10, "The Cult of Asklepios" (pp. 234–279)</ref> In honor of Asclepius, a particular type of non-venomous snake was often used in healing rituals, and these snakes—the [[Aesculapian Snake]]s—slithered around freely on the floor in dormitories where the sick and injured slept. These snakes were introduced at the founding of each new temple of Asclepius throughout the classical world.

The original [[Hippocratic Oath]] began with the invocation "I swear by Apollo the Physician and by Asclepius and by Hygieia and Panacea and by all the gods ...".<ref name="farnell" />

''[[Epidauria (festival)|Epidauria]]'' (τὰ Ἐπιδαύρια) was a festival at Athens in honour of Asclepius.<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0062%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DE%3Aentry+group%3D5%3Aentry%3Depidauria-harpers Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898), Epidauria]</ref>

Some later religious movements claimed links to Asclepius. In the 2nd century AD [[Alexander of Abonutichus|the controversial miracle-worker Alexander]] claimed that his god [[Glycon]], a snake with a "head of linen"<ref name="tertullian">Lucian, ''Alexander the False Prophet'' (trans A.M. Harmon) (Cambridge: Loeb Classical Library, 1936), Lucian, vol IV. Accessible online at http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/lucian/lucian_alexander.htm</ref> was an incarnation of Asclepius. The Greek language [[rhetorician]] and [[satirist]] [[Lucian]] produced the work [[Alexander the False Prophet]] to denounce the swindler for future generations. He described Alexander as having a character "made up of lying, trickery, perjury, and malice; [it was] facile, audacious, venturesome, diligent in the execution of its schemes, plausible, convincing, masking as good, and wearing an appearance absolutely opposite to its purpose."<ref name="tertullian" /> In Rome, the [[College of Aesculapius and Hygia]] was an association ''([[collegium (ancient Rome)|collegium]])'' that served as a [[burial society]] and [[dining club]] that also participated in the [[Imperial cult (ancient Rome)|Imperial cult]].

The botanical genus ''[[Asclepias]]'' (commonly known as milkweed) is named after him and includes the medicinal plant ''A. tuberosa'' or "Pleurisy root".

Asclepius was depicted on the [[Obverse and reverse|reverse]] of the Greek 10,000 [[Modern drachma|drachmas]] banknote of 1995–2001.<ref>[http://www.bankofgreece.gr/Pages/en/default.aspx Bank of Greece] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628221907/http://www.bankofgreece.gr/Pages/en/default.aspx |date=28 June 2015 }}. [http://www.bankofgreece.gr/Pages/en/Euro/drachma.aspx#tra Drachma Banknotes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711091203/http://www.bankofgreece.gr/Pages/en/Euro/drachma.aspx#tra |date=11 July 2010 }}. [http://www.bankofgreece.gr/BogDocumentEn/banknotes_draxmes_1.pdf 10,000 drachma note (pdf)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611194400/http://www.bankofgreece.gr/BogDocumentEn/banknotes_draxmes_1.pdf |date=11 June 2011 }}&nbsp;– Retrieved 26 July 2010.</ref>

At the city of [[Miletus]], archaeologists discovered a cave under the city's theatre which was associated with Asclepius cult.<ref>[https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/photo-sacred-cave-in-ancient-miletos-awaits-visitors-168323#photo-1 "Sacred Cave" in ancient Miletos awaits visitors]</ref><ref>[https://arkeonews.net/the-ancient-city-of-miletoss-sacred-cave-opened-to-visitors/ The Ancient City of Miletos's "Sacred Cave" Opened to Visitors]</ref>

At [[Hyperteleatum]], [[Hypsi]] and [[Hyettus (Boeotia)|Hyettus]] there were temples of Asclepius.<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0064%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DH%3Aentry+group%3D7%3Aentry%3Dhyperteleatum-geo Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), Hyperteleatum]</ref><ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0064%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DH%3Aentry+group%3D7%3Aentry%3Dhypsi-geo Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), Hypsi]</ref><ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0064%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DH%3Aentry+group%3D7%3Aentry%3Dhyettus-geo Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), Hyettus]</ref>