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History of the RSM - February 2010

Asclepios

In the foyer of the Royal Society of Medicine’s headquarters at No. 1 Wimpole Street stands a statue, 40 inches in height, of Asclepios, the Greek god of medicine and one of the most popular deities of the ancient world.

The work is unsigned and the name of the sculptor is not known, but a plate attached to its plinth tells us that the statue was presented to the Society by Ian Gilliland MD (1913-1975) in memory of his brother Hamish Gilliland DSc, FLS, (1911-1965).

According to legend, Asclepios was born above Epidaurus, the offspring of the god Apollo and a mortal woman named Koronis. Asclepios was saved from the fire that consumed Koronis and taken to Mount Pelion where he was cared for by the centaur Chiron and the secrets of the healing herbs. Asclepios’ skill was such that he was reputed to be able to restore the dead to life. This aroused the ire of Pluto, ruler of Hades, and Apollo was forced to strike Asclepios dead by means of a thunderbolt. Asklepios was later deified as the God of Healing and came to be represented always with a snake curled around his staff.

Asclepios had two daughters: Hygieia (Health) and Panacea (All Heal).

Asclepios’ fame spread throughout the ancient world, and to Rome where his name was Latinised to Aesclepius. His followers established the cult of temple-healing (Asclepia) at 300 sites throughout Graecia Magna, most famously at Epidaurus, Pergamum, and at Kos, the birthplace of Hippocrates (460-356 BC).

Under the auspices of The Hellenic Medical Society of the UK, the RSM Library hosts an exhibition covering the beginnings of Hellenic Medicine from the birth of Asclepius through to the last of the great physicians of Greek antiquity, Galen of Pergamum.

The exhibition opens on 8th February and runs until 30th April 2010.


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