. Grecian and Roman mythology . Thessalian king. By his father hewas committed to the care of thewise Centaur, Cheiron, who taughthim Botany, together with thesecret efficacy of plants. By meansof this information, iEsculapius be-came the benefactor of mankind,applying the various remedies thathe had learned to the diseaseswhich afflict mankind. And so successful was he in thepractice of the art, that fictionspeaks of him as having awakenedthe dead. Pluto, the ever-destroy-ing power, considering this an en-croachment on his rights, com-plained before the throne of Jupi-ter, of the awaker from
. Grecian and Roman mythology . Thessalian king. By his father hewas committed to the care of thewise Centaur, Cheiron, who taughthim Botany, together with thesecret efficacy of plants. By meansof this information, iEsculapius be-came the benefactor of mankind,applying the various remedies thathe had learned to the diseaseswhich afflict mankind. And so successful was he in thepractice of the art, that fictionspeaks of him as having awakenedthe dead. Pluto, the ever-destroy-ing power, considering this an en-croachment on his rights, com-plained before the throne of Jupi-ter, of the awaker from the dead asa daring criminal. Jupiter thenpunished the second great benefactor of mankind, as he* had done thefirst (Prometheus), by hurling lightnings upon his innocent head. Hewho had assuaged the pains of men, and healed their diseases, thus be-came himself a victim of his beneficent art. After his death, groves, temples, and altars were consecrated to him ;but Epidaurus, in Greece, was the principal seat of honor. His 282 GRECIAN AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY. Machaon and Podaleirios, were heroes and leaders in the Trojan war,and, at the same time, renowned for their skill in medical art. The snake, as an emblem of recovery and health,was sacred to Asclepios, probably because of its re-newing itself, as it were, by casting its skin. Hencethe god of medicine always carries a staff, aroundwhich is twined a snake. The figure of a little boyis sometimes found with that of Asclepios, wearinga bonnet on his head, and entirely muffled in a name is Telesphoros ; and his infant form, to-gether with his usual covering, seems to allude, in acertain manner, to his convalescence, as well as themysterious art of his master. Of his four daughters, Hygeia, iEgle, Panacea,and Iaso, Hygeia was the most celebrated. To her,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectmytholo, bookyear1876
