Statuette (Pentelic marble) of the goddess Hygieia (Health), given as a thank-offering by one Gaius at the sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus. Artist unknown; ca. 200 CE. Now in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens. Photo credit: George E. Koronaios/Wikimedia Commons.

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.

In Praise of Hygieia, Goddess of Health

Ariphron of Sicyon (date uncertain), Paean to Hygieia (=Athenaeus Deipnosophistae XV.701f-702b)

Ὑγίεια βροτοῖσι πρεσβίστα μακάρων, μετὰ σεῦ 

ναίοιμι τὸ λειπόμενον βιοτᾶς, σὺ δέ μοι πρόφρων ξυνείης·

εἰ γάρ τις ἢ πλούτου χάρις ἢ τεκέων

ἢ τᾶς ἰσοδαίμονος ἀνθρώποις βασιληίδος ἀρχᾶς ἢ πόθων

οὓς κρυφίοις Ἀφροδίτας ἕρκεσιν θηρεύομεν,

ἢ εἴ τις ἄλλα θεόθεν ἀνθρώποισι τέρψις ἢ πόνων

ἀμπνοὰ πέφανται,

μετὰ σεῖο, μάκαιρ’ Ὑγίεια,

τέθαλε καὶ λάμπει Χαρίτων ὀάροις·

σέθεν δὲ χωρὶς οὔτις εὐδαίμων ἔφυ.

Health, most venerated by mortals of all the blessed gods,

May I live with you the rest of my life, and may you be with me willingly.

For if there is any joy in wealth, or in children,

Or in royal rule that makes men like gods,

Or in the desires that we hunt with Aphrodite’s secret snares,

Or if any other delight or rest from toils

Is revealed to men by the gods,

It is with you, o blessed Health,

That it blossoms and shines with the conversation of the Graces.

But without you, not a single man is happy.

Hygieia, from Medicine, Gustav Klimt, 1900-1907