Published in:
24-07-2023 | Cover Editorial
The heritage of the children of Asclepius in modern medicine
Published in: Child's Nervous System | Issue 2/2024
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Asclepius (Asklepios, Aesculapius) is considered the god of health and healing in mythology (Fig. 1). He is the son of the god Apollo (god of healing, truth, and prophecy) and the mortal princess Coronis. Asclepius marries Epione and they have children (six girls, three boys) [1] (Fig. 2) (https://wellcomecollection.org/works/ekhkh79b). The secrets of medicine were passed on to his children by Asclepius. All children of Asclepius carry his healing power [2]. While Apollo, one of the Olympian gods, was seen as the source of healing, his son Asclepius took over this mission. Over time, the cult formed around it and the mythical stories about it were deified [3].
Fig. 1
Asclepius, AD second century, found at Perge, Turkey, Antalya Museum, Turkey.
Reproduced from the photograph by Ilgaz Akdoğan with the permission of Antalya Museum of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Republic of Turkey
Fig. 2
Asclepius and his children (Asclepius with his sons Podalirius and Machaon and his three daughters, with supplicants), Greek relief ca 470–450 BC, found at Thyrea, Greece, National Archaeological Museum of Athens, Greece (https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/L0003119EA/full/full/0/default.jpg)
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