Esculapius

Asclepius, known as Aesculapius in Roman mythology, is a figure from ancient Greek religion and myth. He is the god of healing and medicine. His daughters included Hygieia, goddess of hygiene, health, and sanitation, and Panacea, goddess of universal cure. Asclepius was a skilled physician, so much so that he was said to have been able to bring the dead back to life. This angered Hades, god of the underworld, and Zeus, king of the gods, who feared it would disrupt the natural order of life and death. As a result, Zeus struck Asclepius down with a thunderbolt, killing him and sending him to the underworld.

The serpent-entwined staff of Asclepius is a symbol of medicine and healing. This symbol is still widely used today in modern healthcare. Before his death, Asclepius was a mortal physician, the son of Apollo and the nymph Coronis. He was raised by the centaur Chiron, who taught him the art of medicine. His skill was so great that he was eventually recognized as a god. Sanctuaries dedicated to Asclepius, known as Asclepieia, were popular healing centers throughout the ancient world. People would flock to these sanctuaries seeking cures for their ailments, often sleeping in the temple hoping for a divine dream or intervention from the god.