THE ASKELIPEA
The Askelipea was considered the doctors place over 2500 years ago. At the same time it was also the Temple to the god Askelpos, god of healing and health.It was here that the ill and injured would come to be taken care of by priests and doctors equally.
At the time it was a tradition to first see the priests and tell them the problem that plagued you. You would then be given a cot to sleep in the temple over night. Meanwhile, the priests would the consult the Oracle of Askelipos, for a way of healing. By morning the ill person would be taken to the area where the doctors would tend to there patients. The priest would tell the doctor what the Oracle had said. Being that Oracles spoke in riddles and catch-phrases, it was up to both doctor and priest to interprete the divine message. From there the arts of healing were performed.
After one was healed, one would go to the temple and pray to Askelipos and his children for thanks. Usually votive offeringswere also given in thanks. These would be images of the area healed. In the Agora Temple in Athens, hundreds of these votive gifts were found such as arms, legs, hands, kidneys and such.
Around 460-377 b.c.e., the most famous doctor the world had ever seen, started a new way of thinking. He had discovered the chakra system, diets,advanced herbalism, and the balance of the body. His students were specially taught and had to take an oath.The famous "HIPPOCRATIC OATH", named after him. To this day our doctors must swear to the Hippocratic Oath. Sadly most doctors think of the oath as just a bunch of words and don't pay heed to them. Thus many treatments are lost again in time. Of all the things of the Hippokratic oath said, was that to physician would turn down a patient due to race or status.
Here in this Askelipea, we will try to cover all we can about how the ancients healed there own and how we can learn from them. We will discover the sacred story of Askelipos and his family and we will learn how to live a possibly better life. So let us head on in.
WARNING: I am not a doctor. The Asklelipea is to help you assist with healing and not to replace what a doctor has required you to do. Please see a doctor before moving on to these practices. If you find something here that goes against what your doctor has suggested then talk to him first.
The Sacred Storys of Askelipos
Apollo had fallen in love with a mortal woman named Coronis.
In time she gave birth to a son named Askelipos.
Askelipos had the fortune of growing up in the care
of Khiron, the wisest of all centaur. From Khiron
Askelipos had learned about the art of healing and
health. When Askeilpos grew up, he travelled all
the world and used his talents to help the ill and sick.
He became so well adapted at his art, that there
came a time when noone would die.
When Thanatos, who that transports the dead to the next world,
had heard of this he reported it to Hades.
Now Hades has nosay as to who will die and when,
but he felt it was not the place for a mortal to
stop the course of a mortals death. Quickly he raced
to Olympos, to his brothers aid,Zeus.
Now Zeus did not like the sounds of what was happening on Earth.
He sent one of his eagles to earth to
bring Askelipos to Olympos. But Askelpos ran to avoid Zeus.
Angery, Zeus went down himself. Now there is
no place you can hide from Zeus, he is all seeing.
"What son of my son does not come when I summon him?"
"Tis I, Askelipos, son of Coronis." he meekly responded.
Zeus had the questions his actions about
curing the dead. Askelipos Replied with
yes I have. I am the son of Apollo, you son. I had been
trained in these arts and I do so with all my free will"
"You play with mankinds life like a toy. For that
crime alone, you shall be punished." Zeus quickly raised
to Olympos, and just as his foot touched the ground
of Olympos, Askelipos still on earth, fell dead.
All the world was mourning over his loss
and prayed to the gods for him to return.
Now Apollo wanted to know why and went to Zeus on behalf
of all mortals to plea for his sons life back
Now Zeus is not a vicious god. He new what he
was doing. He sent word to his oracles and priests
to take Askelipos' body and wrap it in the whitest
of cloth tight and lay his body in Apollo's
sanctuary in Epidauros. Needless to say the
people did just that and placed the body in a
grotto with a spring. 13 days later the priests
had found a child emerging from the cave, half
wrapped in the white cloth.
Askelipos had be born again, immortal!
He rose to Olympos and was all but forgiven.">
The Children of Askelipos
Now Askelipos, like his father, had fallen
in love with a mortal. Her name is Epione.
By Zeus' decree she was made immortal and the two were wed.
Eventually Epione had given birth in total
to 10 children. Each immortal. Each divine.
Askelipos was so joyful that he quickly travelled
the world to let all know. Now the people
were so thrilled that they declared a great
festival to be held. The games lasted for days.
The offerings were in the millions.
Epione was so struck
by this that she demanded that the mortals kindness
not go undone.When the children had become
old enough the whole family had gone back to earth
and visited the mortals for 10 days. Each day
for each child. And it is said that in those
10 days that mankind learned from those children
the art of healing and care.
From here at the the entrance of the Askelipea, you may enter THE INNER TEMPLE where you will learn from the priests the divine aspects of healing and where our doctors will show you the more earthly aspects of healing.
ENTER THE INNER TEMPLE
