Æsculapius

Also known as: Boy Æsculapius / Causian Æsculapius · Family: divine · Role: god · First appears: Book 1 · Chapter 23

In Book 1, Hygiea was said to be the daughter of Æsculapius, and Bryaxis made statues of them both. By Book 2, Aratus the son of Clinias was considered his son, while Machaon was named as his son and Alexanor as his grandson; Epione was said to be his wife. At Sicyon, Nicagora was credited with bringing Æsculapius, and Calamis made his beardless gold-and-ivory statue. Sphyrus originally built his temple at Argos, where Xenophilus and Strato designed statues of Æsculapius and Hygiea.

At Epidaurus, traditions differed over his birth: Coronis gave birth to him after conceiving by Apollo, while another account made him the son of Arsinoe, daughter of Leucippus. Artemis killed Coronis, and Hermes rescued the child from the funeral flames. Exposed on a mountain and later found by Aresthanas, he was recognized as divine when lightning shone from him: “when he saw the child desired to take him away, but when he got near saw lightning shining from the child”. He became known for healing sickness and raising the dead, restored Hippolytus to life after the death caused by Theseus’ imprecations, healed Archias, and thereby had his worship carried from Pergamum to Smyrna. Hercules was hidden by Æsculapius while his wound was treated, and Autolaus found and brought up Æsculapius after he was exposed at Thelpusa.

His temples, images, and worship continued through later accounts. Thrasymede, Timotheus, Damophon, Scopas, Alcamenes, and Omphalion were associated with statues or paintings of him, while Antonine built baths and temples for Æsculapius, Hygiea, and Apollo. Hercules was linked with the building of his temple at Cotyle, Memnon’s sword was kept in his temple at Nicomedia, and Telephus’ worshippers had to bathe before entering his temple. Trygon was said to have been his nurse, Alexander (son of Philip) offered him a breastplate and spear, and Phalysius recovered his sight by reading a sealed letter delivered by Anyte: “became cured by looking at the letter”. His temples were also associated with Demænetus, and his reliefs and statues stood beside Hygiea, Artemis, and Athene.

Relationship record

Book 1 · Chapter 23

• child: Hygiea “Hygiea, (Health), who they say was the daughter of Æsculapius”

Book 1 · Chapter 40

• with Bryaxis (Bryaxis made the statue of Æsculapius.) “And statues of Æsculapius and Hygiea, both the work of Bryaxis.”