ABSTRACT
THEGREEKHERBALS55 successfulinhealingdisease,andinraisingthedead, thatZeusbecamejealousofhimandslewhimwitha thunderbolt.HeandhissonsMachaonandPodalirius arementionedbyHomer(Iliad,ii.731).Hecarrieda staff,withaserpent,thesymbolofrenewedlife,coiled roundit.Hygieia,thegoddessofhealth,washis daughter.HewasworshippedinRomeunderthe formofasnakeatthebeginningofthethirdcentury B.c.Therewasneveranysuggestionthathewrote booksofmedicine.Anancienttraditionsaysthat JEsculapiuswasanativeofMemphisinEgyptwho emigratedtoGreece,andthatheintroducedthe knowledgeofmedicineintothatcountry.Another legendsaysthatwhenadministeringmedicinesor usingtheknifeherecitedincantationsinorderto makehisdrugsmoreeffective.
