Incubation; Or, the Cure of Disease in Pagan Temples and Christian Churches (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 edition. Excerpt: ... II. Incubation in the Cult of Asklepios EPIDAUEOS Origin And Development Of The Cult Of Asklepios. --Asklepios belongs to the Panhellenic, not to the Olympian, circle of deities. His cult was of comparatively late origin, and came first into prominence in historical times. When Zeus was "king of gods and men," Asklepios was no deity, merely a hero. In the epic of heroic times, he figures as a skilled physician. Homer mentions him as a pupil of Cheiron, and instructor of his two sons, Machaon and Podaleirios, who sailed to Troy from Thessaly. From the Eoiai and a Pythian Ode of Pindar, the oldest genealogy of Asklepios is deduced. His father was Apollo, his mother Koronis, daughter of Phlegyas, who dwelt in Thessaly. Asklepios was entrusted to Cheiron for his education. He proved so apt a pupil that not only did he work wonderful cures, but raised the dead to life again. This power brought on him the wrath of Zeus, and he was smitten by a thunderbolt. Then came his apotheosis, and thereafter he took rank among the chthonian deities, as his most important attribute, the serpent, testifies. But he was distinguished from the other chthonian gods in that he was honoured chiefly, throughout historical times, as the divine physician. He received from his father, Apollo, this special province, the art of healing, which belonged to the chief god of divination. This tradition represents the close connection that existed between divination and the ancient art of medicine, and it is noteworthy that at Epidauros, Apollo Maleatos was worshipped along with Asklepios. Asklepios was a wonder-worker, a saviour from troubles and diseases, and, owing to his timely efficaciousness, his cult grew great, so as to surpass all others in the extent of its...