The temples and ritual of Asklepios at Epidauros and AthensTwo lectures delivered at the Royal Institution of Great Britain . it hasbeen seen during the present century. A number of thesecreatures dwelt in the sanctuary, perhaps in the vaults of theTholos. They were reverenced as the incarnation of the sick were delighted and encouraged when one of thesecreatures approached them, and were in the habit of feedingthem with cakes. The serpents seem to have been trained tolick with their forked tongue any ailing part. The dog alsowas sacred to Asklepios, and the temple dogs in like mannerw
The temples and ritual of Asklepios at Epidauros and AthensTwo lectures delivered at the Royal Institution of Great Britain . it hasbeen seen during the present century. A number of thesecreatures dwelt in the sanctuary, perhaps in the vaults of theTholos. They were reverenced as the incarnation of the sick were delighted and encouraged when one of thesecreatures approached them, and were in the habit of feedingthem with cakes. The serpents seem to have been trained tolick with their forked tongue any ailing part. The dog alsowas sacred to Asklepios, and the temple dogs in like mannerwere trained to lick any injured or painful region of the body. It will be remembered that in the Plutus of Aristo-phanes, the blind Plutus enters the abaton of the Asklepieion atAthens in order to be cured. Asklepios with his daughters, .1° THE TEMPLES AND IUTlTAI. OF Iaso and Panakeia, appear in person ; they whistle to the sacredserpents, which at once approach, lick the blind eyes, andvision is restored. In the accompanying sketch of the abaton, Plate XXV, amiracle is in progress in the foreground. A lame man comes. PLATE XXV—Restoration of the Interior of the Abaton at EpidaurosPatient Sacrificing and having Injured Leg licked by the Sacred Serpent () to the altar, he offers his sacrifice, the Pyrophoros lights thesacred flame, the Dadouchos or Nakoros enjoins silence whilethe holy serpent licks the affected part. The abaton is nearly ASKLEIMOS AT EliDAlROS AND ATHENS 31 empty, as it is the daytime, but one or two bedridden patientswatch the miracle with interest. In the inscriptions the phrase laaaro rfi yXiixrara, referringto the serpent, is met with, and also in reference to the dogskvwv to)v tapwv eOepaTrevrre t>] yKuavCL. Many of the malades imaginaires, who to this day are thesupport of the quack, and a cause of embarrassment anddifficulty to the scientific physician—who desires above allthings to be honest—doubtless visited Epidauros.
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