Greek mythological figures: Health deities

These deities or gods are related with healing, health and well-being. They are also associated with maintaining good health and preventing or curing illnesses, diseases and afflictions.


List of Health Deities


AIGLÊ: (Greek: Αιγλη) (Latin: Aegle) (Translation: Radiance [aiglê] ) goddess of radiant good health [father was Asclepius (Ασκληπιός)] | Aegle* – goddess of radiant good health. She was a daughter of Asclepius and Epione and an attendant of her father.


AKESO: (Greek: Ακεσο) (Latin: Aceso) (Translation: Curing, Healing [akesis]); goddess of the healing of wounds and the curing of illnesses [father was Asclepius (Ασκληπιός)] | Aceso* – goddess of the healing process. She was represented as the one responsible for healing wounds and curing illnesses. It was believed that she was a daughter of Asclepius and Epione.


APOLLÔN: (Greek: Απολλων) (Latin: Apollo) (Translation: god of healing and medicine {From Greek Απολλων (Apollon), which is of unknown meaning, though perhaps related to Indo-European *apelo “strength”. Another theory states that Apollo can be equated with Appaliunas, an Anatolian god whose name possibly means “father lion” or “father light”. The Greeks later associated Apollo’s name with the Greek verb απολλυμι (apollymi) meaning “to destroy”. In Greek mythology Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto and the twin of Artemis. He was the god of prophecy, medicine, music, art, law, beauty, and wisdom. Later he also became the god of the sun and light.}[1]http://www.behindthename.com/name/apollo APOLLON[2]http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Apollon.html (Apollo) was the Olympian god of prophecy and oracles, healing, plague and disease, music, song and poetry, archery, and the protection of the young. He was depicted as a handsome, beardless youth with long hair and attributes such as a wreath and branch of laurel, bow and quiver of arrows, raven, and lyre.


ASCLEPIUS: (Greek: Ασκληπιος) (Latin: Aesculapius) (Translation: To Cut Open) god of healing  [father was Apollo] | Asclepius* – god of medicine and healing. A son of Apollo and Coronis was raised by the centaur called Chiron, after Hermes cut him from her mother`s body while she was already aflame. Throughout his boyhood and early manhood he perfected his skills in medicine to the point where he was able to restore life from death. He was later destroyed by Zeus` thunderbolt because this was a crime against natural order. After his death, he was placed among stars as the constellation Ophiochus.


ÊPIONÊ, EPIONA: (Greek: Ηπιονη Επιονα) (Latin: Epione) (Translation: Soothing [êpios] ) goddess of the soothing of pain [father was Asclepius (Ασκληπιός)] | Epione* – goddess of the soothing of pain. She was a wife of Asclepius and a mother of Aceso, Hygieia, Iaso and Panacea.


HYGIEIA (Greek: Ὑγεια) (Latin: Salus) (Translation: Good Health [hygiês] ) goddess of cleanliness and good health [father was Asclepius (Ασκληπιός)] | Hygieia* – goddess of cleanliness and good health. She was a daughter of Asclepius and Epione and, when needed, served her father as an attendant. She was also noted as a companion of Aphrodite. Hygieia was also associated with rather preventive than curative when it came to dealing with diseases and illnesses. In other words, she took good care of hygiene and maintained good health and therefore didn`t have to deal with any of the afflictions.


IASÔ, IASO: (Greek: Ιασω Ιασο) (Latin: Iaso) (Translation: Cure, Remedy [iasis]) goddess of cures, remedies, and modes of healing [father was Asclepius (Ασκληπιός)] | Iaso* – goddess of recuperation from illness. She was also a goddess of cures, remedies and practices of healing. Unlike her sister Hygieia, she showed up when health was compromised and restored it.


PANAKEIA: (Greek: Πανακεια) (Latin: Panacea) (Translation: Cure-All, Panacea ) goddess of healing [father was Asclepius | Panacea* – goddess of universal remedy. She was a daughter of Asclepius and Epione and served her father as an attendant.


TELESPHOROS: (Greek: Τελεσφορος) (Latin: Telesphorus) (Translation: Accomplisher ) demigod of convalescence, who “brought to fulfillment” recuperation from illness or injury [father was Asclepius (Ασκληπιός)] | Telesphorus* – semi-god of convalescence who completed the process of recovery from illness or injury.


Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_mythological_figures

Source: http://www.theoi.com/

* Source: http://www.greek-gods.org/greek-deities/health-deities.php

References

References
1 http://www.behindthename.com/name/apollo
2 http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Apollon.html

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