Cult of Asclepius

The Cult of Asclepius

Asclepious was the Greek God of healing. Worshippers built large temple complexes around Greece in his name. Throughout the period, and into the era of the Roman Empire, people would visit these temples to be healed. The cult of Asclepius is remembered to this day through use of the name of his daughters name in everyday language. Her name, Hygeia.

The Cult of Asclepius, which developed older ideas based on religious healing and introduced many more forms of ‘alternative’ treatment, was at it’s peak from the Fifth century BC through to as late as 400 AD.

At a Asclepion (one of the temples) a patient would be expected to partake in a number of rituals, which, it was believed, would cure the infirm. In brief these rituals consisted of:

Making sacrifices
Bathing
Sleeping in the courtyard
It is widely believed that the priests would have healed many visitors to Asclepion’s through the use of ointments and herbal remedies, a theory that is borne out through a logical examination of some of the available source material.

Medicine in Ancient Greece – Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine – The Theory of the Four Humours – Cult of Asclepius – Public Health in Ancient Greece – Revision Game – Ancient Medicine

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