ASKLEPIADES

The Asklepiades (Asclepiades) were four or five goddesses of good health, healing and cures, daughters of the physician-god Asklepios (Asclepius). They were named Hygeia (Good Health), Aigle (Radiance), Iaso (Healing), Panakeia (Cure-All) and Akeso (Curing). The godling Telesphoros was probably a sixth male Asklepiad.

The Asklepiades shared their name with, and were patrons of, an ancient guild of doctors which claimed descent from Asklepios.

PARENTS

[1.1] ASKLEPIOS & EPIONE (Greek Lyric V Anonymous Frag 939 Erythae Inscription, Suidas s.v. Epione)
[1.2] ASKLEPIOS (Aristophanes Plutus 701)

NAMES

[1.1] HYGEIA, PANAKEIA (Hippocrates Hippocratic Oath)
[1.2] IASO, AIGLE, PANAKEIA, HYGEIA (Greek Lyric V Anon. Frag 939 Erythae Inscription)
[1.3] IASO, PANAKEIA (Aristophanes Plutus 701)
[1.4] IASO, AIGLE, PANAKEIA, HYGEIA, AKESO (Suidas s.v. Epione)

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Hippocrates, The Hippocratic Oath (Greek physician C5th to C4th B.C.) :
"I swear by Apollon (Apollo) the physician, and Asklepios (Asclepius), and Hygeia, and Panakeia (Panacea), and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation . . ."

Greek Lyric V Anonymous, Fragment 939 (Inscription from Erythrai) (trans. Campbell) (Greek lyric B.C.) :
"Asklepios (Asclepius), the most famous god--ie Paian! By him were fathered Makhaon (Machaon) and Podaleirios (Podalirius) and Iaso (Healer)--ie Paian!--and fair-eyed Aigle (Aegle, Radiance) and Panakea (Panacea, Cure-all), children of Epione, along with Hygieia (Hygeia, Health), all-glorious, undefiled."

Aristophanes, Plutus 701 (trans. O'Neill) (Greek comedy C5th to 4th B.C.) :
"Wife : And did not the god [Asklepios] come? . . .
Kario : No, but [his daughters] Iaso blushed a little and Panakeia (Panacea) turned her head away."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 1. 34. 3 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"[In the temple of Amphiaraus in Oropos (Oropus) in Attika (Attica) :] The altar shows parts . . . The fourth portion of the altar is to Aphrodite and Panakeia (Panacea), and further to Iaso, Hygeia and Athena Paionia (Healer)."

Suidas s.v. Epione (trans. Suda On Line) (Byzantine Greek Lexicon C10th A.D.) :
"Epione : wife of Asklepios (Asclepius), and daughters named Hygeia, Aigle (Aegle), Iaso, Akeso (Aceso), Panakeia (Panacea)."

ANCIENT GREEK ART

K25.1 Iaso Holding Mirror

Athenian Red Figure Vase Painting C5th B.C.

K24.1 Hygeia Holding Spear

Athenian Red Figure Vase Painting C5th B.C.

S23.6 Hygeia & Asclepius

Greco-Roman Marble Statue A.D.

SOURCES

GREEK

• Hippocrates, The Hippocratic Oath - Greek Rhetoric C5th - 4th B.C.
• Greek Lyric V Anonymous, Fragments - Greek Lyric B.C.
• Aristophanes, Plutus - Greek Comedy C5th - 4th B.C.
• Pausanias, Description of Greece - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.

BYZANTINE

• Suidas, The Suda - Byzantine Greek Lexicon C10th A.D.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.