DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.796#0303
TEMPLES AND SHRINES
257
ailments of the body. One of these inscriptions dates from
about 320 B.C. Among the votive offerings enumerated are
representations of the human body and of various parts of it,
such as eyes, mouths, ears, breasts, hands, feet, made sometimes
of gold or of silver as well as of cheaper material. Small
silver and golden serpents are also mentioned, dedicated
doubtless to the sacred serpents which had their abode in
the sanctuary and were believed to possess healing powers.
Another form of votive offering are the sculptured reliefs,
which have been found in the precinct (165). Two of these
reliefs are represented here by way of illustration. The first
Fig. 113.—Relief representing a Sacrifice to Asclepius and Hygieia.
was found in the Asclepieum and shows the god standing.
Behind him sits Demeter accompanied by her daughter Kore
who stands behind her and holds torches in her hands. The
three gods are approached by six worshippers, the names of
five of whom are inscribed below within crowns. The names
are doubtless those of the dedicators of the slab.
Another relief shows Asclepius in company with the god-
dess Hygieia receiving the prayers and offerings of two
suppliants. The sacred serpent is coiled about the trunk of
a tree. A votive offering of a different sort is a series of
three hymns inscribed on a slab of gray marble. The first
two hymns consist of prayers addressed to Asclepius by a
certain Diophantes, a custodian of the temple who had suffered
257
ailments of the body. One of these inscriptions dates from
about 320 B.C. Among the votive offerings enumerated are
representations of the human body and of various parts of it,
such as eyes, mouths, ears, breasts, hands, feet, made sometimes
of gold or of silver as well as of cheaper material. Small
silver and golden serpents are also mentioned, dedicated
doubtless to the sacred serpents which had their abode in
the sanctuary and were believed to possess healing powers.
Another form of votive offering are the sculptured reliefs,
which have been found in the precinct (165). Two of these
reliefs are represented here by way of illustration. The first
Fig. 113.—Relief representing a Sacrifice to Asclepius and Hygieia.
was found in the Asclepieum and shows the god standing.
Behind him sits Demeter accompanied by her daughter Kore
who stands behind her and holds torches in her hands. The
three gods are approached by six worshippers, the names of
five of whom are inscribed below within crowns. The names
are doubtless those of the dedicators of the slab.
Another relief shows Asclepius in company with the god-
dess Hygieia receiving the prayers and offerings of two
suppliants. The sacred serpent is coiled about the trunk of
a tree. A votive offering of a different sort is a series of
three hymns inscribed on a slab of gray marble. The first
two hymns consist of prayers addressed to Asclepius by a
certain Diophantes, a custodian of the temple who had suffered