Asclepius

In ancient mythology, Asclepius (Greek: Asklepios) was the son of Apollo and a mortal woman. He inherited the healing skills of his father, who was the traditional Greek healing god. Beginning in the late 500s B.C., the cult of Asklepios spread from a small local following to an important one recognized throughout Greece. It was especially popular in the Hellenistic period and was subsequently adopted by the Romans.Asclepius is depicted here as a mature, bearded man accompanied by his sacred animal, the snake. On his head is a ring-shaped crown made of twisted fabric, and on his feet, tongued sandals. Over his bare torso, he wears an ample himation which is wound around his waist, tucked up under the right arm and then drawn across the back so that it wraps around the left shoulder and arm.