Asclepius (Aesculapius)
The following is an excerpt from: Cults, Myths and Legends of Ancient Sicily (Author: Ignazio Caloggero – ISBN: 9788894321913)
Marble statue of Aslepius of the second century. BC found in Velletri in the locality of San Cesareo
Origins of the Myth
According to Greek mythology, Asclepius (the Roman Aesculapius) is the patron god of medicine. Son of Apollo , he was raised by the centaur Chiron , who taught him the art of medicine. Asclepius became highly skilled in this art and performed countless cures. He also discovered a way to resurrect the dead; in fact, when Perseus cut off the head of Medusa , the gorgon with a head full of snakes who petrified anyone who dared to look her in the eyes, he collected Medusa's blood, which had magical properties, and gave it to Athena , who in turn gave it to Asclepius . Medusa's blood had the following characteristics: that which flowed from the left vein was a terrible, deadly poison, while that which flowed from the right vein had beneficial properties, and Asclepius managed to use it to resurrect the dead. Many people were brought back to life, but this did not please Zeus , the guarantor of universal harmony, who, fearing the disruption of the world order, struck Asclepius with lightning.
Bas-relief - Athens, National Archaeological Museum
Among the attributes of Asclepius, the snake is of particular importance, sometimes coiled into a stick (caduceus) that can happen to be seen in the pharmacy. In fact, this attribute has become the symbol of pharmacists.
The cult of Asclepius was especially widespread in the Peloponnese, where a school of medicine was born, initially based on magical rituals but which later marked the advent of a more scientific medicine. Practitioners of this art were called Asclepiadeans, and one of these was the famous Hippocrates , whose family was related to that of the god Asclepius. Sanctuaries generally consisted of a spring or well surrounded by a sacred grove and the Adyon, the sacred clinic where the sick spent a night, after which, following a dream, probably induced by drugs, their healing occurred.
Roman coin with Aslepius
The Myth in Sicily
In Sicily the main seats of this cult were Agrigento and Syracuse , where the cult of Asclepius was linked to that of Apollo, who was also considered the protector of medicine [1]. The link between the two divinities emerges from Cicero 's story of the thefts of Verres : he stole the statue of Apollo which was inside the temple of Asclepius [2].
In Syracuse, not far from the Temple of Apollo, whose imposing remains are still visible in Largo XXV Luglio, there must have actually been a temple dedicated to Asclepius. In fact, in Piazza Pancalli, two Roman-era statues were found in 1901, one of which depicted Hygieia , the daughter of Asclepius, the personification of health and whose cult was associated with that of her father.
Another sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius is that of Agrigento, in the center of the plain of S. Gregorio, dated to the end of the 4th century. BC [XNUMX].
Temple of Aesculapius - Agrigento
Traces of this cult are also found in Himera and Menai.
One of the sanctuaries found in Selinunte , the so-called temple B, is perhaps to be associated with the cult of Asclepius, even if some hypothesize that it belonged to Demeter [3].
At Eloro , about 8 km south-east of Noto, a small temple was found which may also be attributed to Asclepius [5].
The cult of Asclepius must have been widespread in Messina as well . In fact, in correspondence with the Cathedral, a base belonging to a statue bearing an inscription dedicated to Asclepius was found, while a small sanctuary, dating back to the beginning of the Greek colonisation of the city, was excavated at the end of the port, under the statue of the Madonnina [6].
[1] Ciaceri Emanuele: Cults and Myths of Ancient Sicily p.162.
[2] Cicero, Verrine, II.IV.93)
[3] F. Coarelli and M. Torelli: Sicily “Archaeological Guides Laterza” p.93.
[4] Vincenzo Tusa and Ernesto De Miro: Western Sicily p.131.
[5] F. Coarelli and M. Torelli: Sicily “Archaeological Guides Laterza” p.287.
[6] F. Coarelli and M. Torelli: Sicily “Archaeological Guides Laterza” p.369.
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Photo: web, Ignazio Caloggero
Informational contributions : Ignazio Caloggero, Sicily Region