Panaceia: The Goddess of Curatives

Panaceia: The Goddess of Curatives Panacea, the goddess of curatives, was worshipped in Greece and elsewhere as the patron of health and healing. She was also known as Asclepius, the god of medicine. It is believed that this deity originated when she sacrificed a mouse that had swallowed a serpent. The mouse became ill after eating the venomous snake, so he asked Panacea to save him by sacrificing one of his own organs in order to extract the healing power from it.

Panacea’s name means “all remedies” or “the best cure”. In ancient Greece , she was referred to as Asklepios; her Roman equivalent was known as Asclepius. These names came from Greek words: asklepion – a small temple for treating minor ailments; and epi – upon or over (as if above). Thus, Asklepios means “surgery upon small things” and Asclepius means “surgery upon large things” (such as surgeries involving several organs at once).

The Greeks considered Panacea their greatest healer and thus worshipped her in many temples throughout the country. Her most famous shrine was on Crete where her temple was called Asklepieion (after her original name). She also had shrines built in Athens and other Greek cities. Greek Mythology and Origin of the Goddess The earliest references to the goddess Panacea are found in Greek myths .

According to some stories, the human race began after a cosmic struggle between the forces of light and the forces of darkness. The goddess of light, known as Eos, was pregnant with the human race. She had been attacked by a monster, which later became known as the god of darkness, Nyx. In order to prevent the birth of Nyx, Eos had to make a blood sacrifice.

Although this sacrifice saved the human race, it left her weak. When her son, the god of light Apollo , was born, Eos recovered her strength. The recently born baby left a drop of blood behind that had the power to cure diseases and injuries. The gods collected the drop of blood to keep it safe and have it available for everyone. The drop of blood became the goddess Asklepios, who was worshipped in the temples on the island of Crete.

The Greeks also worshipped the goddess in other temples spread across the country. The Greeks believed that the goddess came to Earth to teach the art of medicine to humankind. She was also believed to be the creator of herbal medicines. The goddess was also known as “the one who heals all things”. Symbolism of Panacea The most common representation of the goddess Panacea was as a woman with a serpent as a headdress.