asclepius
Definition
Proper noun 1. A figure from Greek and Roman mythology: Asclepius is the god of medicine and healing. He is traditionally depicted as the son of the god Apollo and a mortal woman. He is often shown holding a staff with a single serpent coiled around it, which became a symbol of medicine.
Usage Examples
- Proper noun:
- The ancient Greeks would pray to Asclepius for good health and recovery from illness.
- Many healing temples, called Asclepieia, were dedicated to the worship of Asclepius.
- The rod of Asclepius, featuring a single serpent, is a common emblem for medical organizations.
Advanced Usage
- In classical literature and art: Asclepius is a frequent subject in myths, often associated with the power to restore life, which sometimes brought him into conflict with other gods like Zeus.
- The myth describes how Asclepius was killed by Zeus for resurrecting the dead.
Variants and Related Words
- Asclepieion (noun): A healing temple sacred to Asclepius.
- The ruins of the Asclepieion at Epidaurus are a famous archaeological site.
- Asclepiad (noun): Historically, a physician or a follower of Asclepius; also refers to a type of poetic meter.
- Asclepiadean (adjective): Pertaining to Asclepius or to the Asclepiad poetic meter.
Synonyms
- Aesculapius: The Romanized/Latin name for Asclepius.
- The Healer: A descriptive epithet for Asclepius.
Related Figures (Mythological Context)
- Hygeia: His daughter, the goddess/personification of health, hygiene, and prevention.
- Panacea: His daughter, the goddess/personification of universal remedy and cure.
- Apollo: His father, the god of, among other things, healing and disease.
- Caduceus: Often confused with the Rod of Asclepius; the Caduceus is the staff of the god Hermes, featuring two serpents and wings, and is associated with commerce, not medicine.
Noun
-
son of Apollo; a hero and the Roman god of medicine and healing; his daughters were Hygeia and Panacea
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ gần giống
Từ có nhắc đến "asclepius"
