A Study Of The Athenian Plague And The Cult Of Asclepius In Classical Period

Asclepius is the god of medicine in the ancient Greco-Roman cultures.The cult of Asclepius culminated in the Classical Age.In 430 BC,during the Peloponnesian War,a devastating plague suddenly occurred,which was called the Athenian Plague.Under its influence,the cult of Asclepius spread from Epidaurus to Athens in 420/19 BC and later swept across the Panhellenic World.Thereafter,as the god of medicine,Asclepius was prevalently worshiped by the Greeks.This paper consists of four parts: introduction,body,conclusion and appendix.The main part is divided into three sections to discuss the situation of Asclepius' cult and to explore how and why that cult was introduced to Athens.The first section gives an overview of the mythological origin of Asclepius.According to early accounts in the Homeric Age,Asclepius was merely a mortal army-surgeon with highly acclaimed medical skills.Then in the Archaic Age,he started to be deified as a god of medicine specializing in healing.Myths and legends created in that period further embellished his mythological image.The second section describes the ritual of Asclepius,with a focus on purification.In Ancient Greece,Asclepius' temples performed the function of hospitals,healing people from every corner of Greece and all levels of the society.Through the purification ritual for individuals and unbalanced states,Asclepius healed diseases,eliminated filthiness,resolved crisis,and restored orders.The third section analyzes why and how the cult of Asclepius was introduced to Athens.The introduction was a positive response to the Athenian Plague during the Peloponnesian War.Additionally,it went beyond a religious transmission to be a diplomatic activity.The cult of Asclepius served as a link to maintain the state relations between Athens and Epidaurus.The cult of Asclepius reflects the desire of the Ancient Greeks for health,longevity,hoarmony,and peace.Exploration on this religious phenomenon can help us understand the concept of purification in ancient Greece as well as the medical development.Meanwhile,the analysis of the reasons why the cult of Asclepius was introduced to Athens is actually an attempt to explain historical events from the perspective of religion,in combination with current political affairs.