Asclepius is the Latinized form of Asklepios, the Greek god of healing and medicine. In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Asclepius (originally Asklepios Ἀσκληπιός) was a hero and then a deity, venerated as the patron of physicians and the medical arts. The etymology of the name is unknown, though it has been linked to a root meaning “to cut open” or “to untie,” in reference to surgical practice.Etymology and OriginsAsclepius is the son of Apollo, the god of prophecy, music, and medicine, and Coronis (or in some accounts Arsinoe). According to myth, Coronis was unfaithful to Apollo while pregnant; in his anger, Apollo killed her, but saved the unborn child, giving it to the centaur Chiron to raise. Chiron taught Asclepius the art of healing, which he mastered to the point of being able to raise the dead. This alarmed Hades, the god of the underworld, and Zeus struck Asclepius dead with a thunderbolt for disrupting the natural order. After his death, Asclepius was elevated to godhood and continued to be worshipped, especially at healing sanctuaries called asclepieia.Notable Bearers and Cultural SignificanceThe worship of Asclepius was widespread across the Greek world, with major shrines at Epidaurus, Kos, and Pergamon. His association with snakes — the rod of Asclepius, a staff entwined with a serpent — remains a universal symbol of medicine today. His daughters include Hygieia (goddess of health), Panacea (universal remedy), Iaso (recuperation), Aceso (healing process), and Aegle (good health). The physician-priests who served him were known as the Therapeutae. Asclepius was also equated with the Egyptian god Imhotep and the Etruscan-Roman Vediovis.Variant Forms and Modern UseBecause Asclepius is the Latinization of the Greek name, its variant in Latin is Aesculapius, while the original Greek is Asklepios. Although never a common personal name, Asclepius has inspired various scientific and medical terms, such as Asclepias (the milkweed genus) and asclepiadean (a poetic meter).Meaning: Unknown, possibly “healer” or “cutting open”Origin: Greek mythologyType: Mythological godUsage: English (via Latinized form)