A Hymn to Asclepius

Asclepius I sing, whom men call Paean, Bearer of a rod entwined with snakes Whose touch brings health to those in agony – Son of Apollo and Coronis he, Plucked from his mother’s womb as she lay burning And nursed to growth by Leto’s shining son. His limbs waxed strong, but no less strong in mind He learned what herbs can stanch a bleeding wound, What charms bring death, and what charms can upend it. To all in need he offered up his art: To kings and peasants, gods and mortal men – Nor did he charge a fee, as men do now. When Hippolytus was dragged to death by horses, The victim of his father’s thoughtless curse, Asclepius picked up his limbs and stitched them Back together, breathed into his mouth And raised him out of Hades, fresh and new – An act of mercy, but the dark All-Gatherer Thought it a crime, impinging on his rights. And so he made complaint to mighty Zeus, Who hurled his invincible thunderbolt And smote Apollo’s son to steaming ash. Great was Apollo’s weeping then, and great The mourning wails of every mortal mouth Because they were bereft of Asclepius’ aid. In course of time the Thunderer repented And, at his son’s behest, raised up the Healer, Giving him an honored place on Olympus And setting his form among the shining stars. Hail, Apollo and Coronis’ child, Be gracious unto me, and favor me With good health, free from injury and ailment, Into a rich old age. And in return I shall favor you with many gifts, And give you honor in my songs as well.

Marble relief of Asclepius and his daughter Hygieia (Health). Artist unknown; end of 5th century BCE. Now in the Istanbul Archaeological Museums. Photo credit: Prioryman/Wikimedia Commons.

Homeric Hymn 16, "To Asclepius"

I begin my song with Asclepius, healer of illness – Apollo’s son, whom shining Coronis, the daughter Of King Phlegyas, bore on Dotion’s plain: For mortals a source of great joy, A charmer-away of evil pains. Thus I bid you hail, my lord; with this song I entreat you. ἰητῆρα νόσων Ἀσκληπιὸν ἄρχομ᾽ ἀείδειν, υἱὸν Ἀπόλλωνος, τὸν ἐγείνατο δῖα Κορωνὶς Δωτίῳ ἐν πεδίῳ, κούρη Φλεγύου βασιλῆος, χάρμα μέγ᾽ ἀνθρώποισι, κακῶν θελκτῆρ᾽ ὀδυνάων. καὶ σὺ μὲν οὕτω χαῖρε, ἄναξ: λίτομαι δέ σ᾽ ἀοιδῇ.

Bronze coin dating to the joint reign of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus (161-169 CE), depicting Asclepius (right) and his mother Coronis. Now in the Pergamon Museum, Berlin. Photo credit: © Hartmann Linge, Wikimedia Commons, CC-by-sa 3.0.

Head of Asclepius.  Roman copy (second half of 2nd cent. CE) after a mid-4th cent. BCE Greek original.  Found on the Palatine Hill; now in the Palatine Museum.  Photo credit: Jean-Pol Grandmont/Wikimedia Commons.

Terracotta figurine of the healing deity Asclepius, with his caduceus.  Artist unknown; 1st cent. BCE.  Found at Myrina; now in the Louvre.

Colossal head of the god Asclepius, made of Parian marble.  The head originally bore a metal crown and was part of a cult statue in Asclepius’ shrine on the island of Melos.  Early Hellenistic (ca. 325-300 BCE); artist unknown.  Now in the British Museum.

A mosaic from the shrine of Asclepius, god of medicine, on the island of Kos.  Asclepius, center, arrives on the island via ship, and is greeted by a local (right).  The physician Hippocrates sits at left.  Now in the Archaeological Museum of Kos.  Photo credit: Tedmek.

Asclepius, the Father of Medicine

Orphic Hymn 67, “To Asclepius” (author unknown; date perhaps 200-250 CE) Note: Hygieia = the goddess of health. O healer of all, Asclepius, lord Paean, You who charm away the pain-filled miseries of men’s illnesses, O mighty giver of soothing gifts, come!  Bring with you health And put an end to sicknesses, death’s grievous spirits. You make life blossom and grow, o ally who wards off evils; You grant a portion of prosperity, o powerful scion Of Phoebus Apollo- you are filled with shining honors. You are a foe to diseases; Hygieia is your blameless bedmate. Come, blessed one, savior, and grant a splendid consummation to my life. Ἰητὴρ πάντων, Ἀσκληπιέ, δέσποτα Παιάν, θέλγων ἀνθρώπων πολυαλγέα πήματα νούσων, ἠπιόδωρε, κραταιέ, μόλοις κατάγων ὑγίειαν καὶ παύων νούσους, χαλεπὰς κῆρας θανάτοιο, αὐξιθαλής, ἐπίκουρ’, ἀπαλεξίκακ’, ὀλβιόμοιρε, Φοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος κρατερὸν θάλος ἀγλαότιμον, ἐχθρὲ νόσων, Ὑγίειαν ἔχων σύλλεκτρον ἀμεμφῆ, ἐλθέ, μάκαρ, σωτήρ, βιοτῆς τέλος ἐσθλὸν ὀπάζων.

Asclepius and Hygieia.  Relief by an unknown artist, 425-400 BCE.  Found at Thessalonica; now in the National Archaeological Museum, Istanbul.  Photo credit: Sandstein.

Apollo (left) and his son Asclepius (seated), with the wise centaur Chiron, Asclepius' tutor, between them. Fresco from VI Insula Occidentalis 10 at Pompeii, now in the National Archaeological Museum, Naples. 

A Morning-Song for the God Asclepius

Dittenberger Inscriptiones Graecae III.i.171 = Kaibel Epigrammata Graeca 1027, author unknown, perhaps Roman period, found on the “Kassel Stone” from the sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus (now in Berlin)

Wake up, Paieon Asclepius, lord of peoples, Gentle-minded child of Leto’s son and venerable Coronis! Shake sleep from your eyes and hear the prayers of Your mortal worshippers, who are filled with great happiness as they ask, O gentle-minded Asclepius, for your power first of all- Health! Wake up, and, ié ié, listen to your hymn as you rejoice!

Ἔγρεο Παιήων Ἀσκληπιέ, κοίρανε λαῶν, Λητοΐδου σεμνῆς τε Κορωνίδος ἠπιόφρων παῖ. ὕπνον ἀπὸ βλεφάρων σκεδάσας εὐχῶν ἐπάκουε σῶν μερόπων, οἳ πολλὰ γεγηθότες ἱλάσκονται σὸν σθένος, ἠπιόφρων Ἀσκληπιέ, πρῶτον Ὑγίειαν. ἔγρεο καὶ τεὸν ὕμνον ἰὴ ἰὲ κέκλυθι χαίρων.

Marble relief with Asclepius and his daughter Hygieia (Health), late 5th cent. BCE, now in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum