Esculapius
deity earth Roman single tradition · 1
Esculapius is the Roman god of healing and medicine, invoked by Alexander of Abonoteichos when he built a temple to him in his native city of Paphlagonia. The temple attracted many visitors from Greece and Italy seeking cures for bodily, mental, and social afflictions. In the context of Alexander's fraudulent oracles, Esculapius is presented as the divine figure whose favor the prophet claims to secure for his followers.
When
- Attested period
- 150 – 200
- Historical notes
- Esculapius was already a well‑established deity in the Roman world before the 2nd‑century CE events described by Lucian.
Sources
encyclopedia (1)
- peer reviewed
Source passages
“about 150 he built in his native city of Paphlagonia a temple to Esculapius, that was soon visited by many from all parts of Greece and Italy.”
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