As a god of healing and medicine, it might seem surprising that Asclepius is closely identified with snakes. Like many other cultures, the ancient Greeks typically associated snakes with death and the Underworld. Their symbolism seems to be at odds with the healing skills of Asclepius.
"Asclepius" = 138 (Reverse)
"Donald Trump" = 138 (Ordinal)
"Asclepius" = 33 (Reduction)
"Clinton" = 33 (Reduction)
"Asclepius" = 630 (Sumerian) 630+036 = 666
Dr Bryan Ardis "Covid is Snake Venon"
How Asclepius Got His Symbol
Snakes often appear in Greek legends as death-bringing monsters. So why were they also associated with mythology’s greatest healer?
According to legend, Asclepius was the Greek god of healing and medicine. He was born as a mortal son of Apollo and struck down by Zeus for violating natural law by resurrecting the dead.
After Apollo sought revenge, Zeus eventually agreed to have mercy on the great doctor. He made Asclepius an immortal god.
As the god of medicine, Asclepius represented the preservation of life and the betterment of people’s health. He was seen as a skilled, wise, and helpful deity.
Despite this, he was closely associated with creatures that are typically seen in many cultures as untrustworthy or even evil. In his legends, art, and worship, Asclepius was symbolized by snakes.
The Greeks, however, had a very good reason for linking the god of healing and an animal often identified with monsters. As creatures that blurred the line between life and death, snakes had secret knowledge that they could share with the Greek god of healing.
Asclepius and Snakes
The Greek god of healing was the son of Apollo and a mortal woman who died before his birth. Because of the love his father had for him and his great works in life, Asclepius was eventually granted immortality.
As a god of healing and medicine, it might seem surprising that Asclepius is closely identified with snakes.
Like many other cultures, the ancient Greeks typically associated snakes with death and the Underworld. Their symbolism seems to be at odds with the healing skills of Asclepius.
His most famous attribute, for example, is his rod. It is still used as a symbol of medicine in much of the world.
According to legend, Asclepius was imprisoned in a Cretan dungeon after the death of Glaucus. While there, he saw a snake make its way across the floor.
Wondering how he could resurrect Glaucus as commanded, Asclepius absentmindedly struck the snake with his staff. A short time later, he saw a second snake enter his prison cell.
This snake carried an herb in its mouth, which it placed in the jaws of the serpent that Asclepius had crushed. The first snake came back to life, showing the physician how to similarly restore Glaucus and win his own freedom.
The rod of Asclepius with its intertwining snakes became a recognizable symbol for physicians throughout the Mediterranean.
According to another version of the story, the snake did not show Asclepius the herb that could grant resurrection. Instead, it coiled itself up his body and whispered the plant’s name in his ear.
Snakes were so central to the cult of Asclepius that they were considered essential for his temples. When a new temple was founded, part of its establishment was the introduction of a breed of non-venomous snake.
The legends of Asclepius also illustrate the unique powers that the ancient Greeks believed serpents possessed.
Because they lived below ground, snakes traveled between the Underworld and the world of living men. This gave them knowledge about death and destiny that was beyond that of any living person.
The snake that whispered in the ear of Asclepius in one legend was therefore a provider of secret information about life and death. The Greek god of healing used knowledge only known to underground creatures, those of the world of the dead, to almost miraculously extend people’s lives.
Snakes were known as Underworld creatures for more than just the holes they lived in. Their behavior also made them symbols of renewed life.
What is snake worship?
The Caduceus, symbol of God Ningishzida, on the libation vase of Sumerian ruler Gudea, circa 2100 BCE. Snake worship is devotion to serpent deities. The tradition is present in several ancient cultures, particularly in religion and mythology, where snakes were seen as the holders of knowledge, strength, and renewal.
Who is the snake goddess in Greek mythology?
Ophion and Wadjet. Greek mythology also talks about serpent deities. One example is Ophion, whose name actually means “serpent”. Ophion was said to have ruled the world with Eurynome before the two of them were cast down by Kronos and Rhea. In Egyptian mythology, the snake goddess is Wadjet.
Slithering Through the Stories of Ancient Snake Deities: Serpent Gods
www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/ancient-snake-deities-gods-ancient-mythology-006282
Ancient Mesopotamians and Semites believed that snakes were immortal because they could infinitely shed their skin and appear forever youthful, appearing in a fresh guise every time.[2] The Sumerians worshipped a serpent god named Ningishzida. Before the arrival of the Israelites, snake cults were well established in Canaan in the Bronze Age, for archaeologists have uncovered serpent cult objects in Bronze Age strata at several pre-Israelite cities in Canaan: two at Megiddo,[3] one at Gezer,[4] one in the sanctum sanctorum of the Area H temple at Hazor,[5] and two at Shechem.[6]
In the surrounding region, serpent cult objects figured in other cultures. A late Bronze Age Hittite shrine in northern Syria contained a bronze statue of a god holding a serpent in one hand and a staff in the other.[7] In sixth-century Babylon a pair of bronze serpents flanked each of the four doorways of the temple of Esagila.[8] At the Babylonian New Year's festival, the priest was to commission from a woodworker, a metalworker, and a goldsmith two images, one of which "shall hold in its left hand a snake of cedar, raising its right [hand] to the god Nabu".[9] At the tell of Tepe Gawra, at least seventeen Early Bronze Age Assyrian bronze serpents were recovered
Gnosticism originated in the late 1st century CE in non-rabbinical Jewish and early Christian sects.[12] In the formation of Christianity, various sectarian groups, labeled "gnostics" by their opponents, emphasised spiritual knowledge (gnosis) of the divine spark within, over faith (pistis) in the teachings and traditions of the various communities of Christians.[13][14][15][16] Gnosticism presents a distinction between the highest, unknowable God, and the Demiurge, "creator" of the material universe.[13][14][15][17] The Gnostics considered the most essential part of the process of salvation to be this personal knowledge, in contrast to faith as an outlook in their worldview along with faith in the ecclesiastical authority.[13][14][15][17]
In Gnosticism, the biblical serpent in the Garden of Eden was praised and thanked for bringing knowledge (gnosis) to Adam and Eve and thereby freeing them from the malevolent Demiurge's control.[17] Gnostic Christian doctrines rely on a dualistic cosmology that implies the eternal conflict between good and evil, and a conception of the serpent as the liberating savior and bestower of knowledge to humankind opposed to the Demiurge or creator god, identified with the Hebrew God of the Old Testament.[14][17] Gnostic Christians considered the Hebrew God of the Old Testament as the evil, false god and creator of the material universe, and the Unknown God of the Gospel, the father of Jesus Christ and creator of the spiritual world, as the true, good God.[14][17] In the Archontic, Sethian, and Ophite systems, Yaldabaoth (Yahweh) is regarded as the malevolent Demiurge and false god of the Old Testament who generated the material universe and keeps the souls trapped in physical bodies, imprisoned in the world full of pain and suffering that he created.[18][19][20]
However, not all Gnostic movements regarded the creator of the material universe as inherently evil or malevolent.[21][22] For instance, Valentinians believed that the Demiurge is merely an ignorant and incompetent creator, trying to fashion the world as good as he can, but lacking the proper power to maintain its goodness.[21][22] They were regarded as heretics by the proto-orthodox Early Church Fathers
Rainbow Snake
Main article: rainbow serpent
The Rainbow Snake was called the Aido Hwedo, a sort of cosmic serpent which could cause quakes and floods and even controlled the motions of heavenly bodies.[30] The rainbow-god of the Ashanti was also conceived to have the form of a snake. His messenger was said to be a small variety of boa, but only certain individuals, not the whole species, were sacred. In West African mythology in general, Ayida-Weddo is believed to hold up the sk
What is snake worship?
The Caduceus, symbol of God Ningishzida, on the libation vase of Sumerian ruler Gudea, circa 2100 BCE. Snake worship is devotion to serpent deities. The tradition is present in several ancient cultures, particularly in religion and mythology, where snakes were seen as the holders of knowledge, strength, and renewal.
Who is the snake goddess in Greek mythology?
Ophion and Wadjet. Greek mythology also talks about serpent deities. One example is Ophion, whose name actually means “serpent”. Ophion was said to have ruled the world with Eurynome before the two of them were cast down by Kronos and Rhea. In Egyptian mythology, the snake goddess is Wadjet.
Slithering Through the Stories of Ancient Snake Deities: Serpent Gods
Ancient Mesopotamians and Semites believed that snakes were immortal because they could infinitely shed their skin and appear forever youthful, appearing in a fresh guise every time.[2] The Sumerians worshipped a serpent god named Ningishzida. Before the arrival of the Israelites, snake cults were well established in Canaan in the Bronze Age, for archaeologists have uncovered serpent cult objects in Bronze Age strata at several pre-Israelite cities in Canaan: two at Megiddo,[3] one at Gezer,[4] one in the sanctum sanctorum of the Area H temple at Hazor,[5] and two at Shechem.[6]
In the surrounding region, serpent cult objects figured in other cultures. A late Bronze Age Hittite shrine in northern Syria contained a bronze statue of a god holding a serpent in one hand and a staff in the other.[7] In sixth-century Babylon a pair of bronze serpents flanked each of the four doorways of the temple of Esagila.[8] At the Babylonian New Year's festival, the priest was to commission from a woodworker, a metalworker, and a goldsmith two images, one of which "shall hold in its left hand a snake of cedar, raising its right [hand] to the god Nabu".[9] At the tell of Tepe Gawra, at least seventeen Early Bronze Age Assyrian bronze serpents were recovered
Gnosticism originated in the late 1st century CE in non-rabbinical Jewish and early Christian sects.[12] In the formation of Christianity, various sectarian groups, labeled "gnostics" by their opponents, emphasised spiritual knowledge (gnosis) of the divine spark within, over faith (pistis) in the teachings and traditions of the various communities of Christians.[13][14][15][16] Gnosticism presents a distinction between the highest, unknowable God, and the Demiurge, "creator" of the material universe.[13][14][15][17] The Gnostics considered the most essential part of the process of salvation to be this personal knowledge, in contrast to faith as an outlook in their worldview along with faith in the ecclesiastical authority.[13][14][15][17]
In Gnosticism, the biblical serpent in the Garden of Eden was praised and thanked for bringing knowledge (gnosis) to Adam and Eve and thereby freeing them from the malevolent Demiurge's control.[17] Gnostic Christian doctrines rely on a dualistic cosmology that implies the eternal conflict between good and evil, and a conception of the serpent as the liberating savior and bestower of knowledge to humankind opposed to the Demiurge or creator god, identified with the Hebrew God of the Old Testament.[14][17] Gnostic Christians considered the Hebrew God of the Old Testament as the evil, false god and creator of the material universe, and the Unknown God of the Gospel, the father of Jesus Christ and creator of the spiritual world, as the true, good God.[14][17] In the Archontic, Sethian, and Ophite systems, Yaldabaoth (Yahweh) is regarded as the malevolent Demiurge and false god of the Old Testament who generated the material universe and keeps the souls trapped in physical bodies, imprisoned in the world full of pain and suffering that he created.[18][19][20]
However, not all Gnostic movements regarded the creator of the material universe as inherently evil or malevolent.[21][22] For instance, Valentinians believed that the Demiurge is merely an ignorant and incompetent creator, trying to fashion the world as good as he can, but lacking the proper power to maintain its goodness.[21][22] They were regarded as heretics by the proto-orthodox Early Church Fathers
Rainbow Snake
Main article: rainbow serpent
The Rainbow Snake was called the Aido Hwedo, a sort of cosmic serpent which could cause quakes and floods and even controlled the motions of heavenly bodies.[30] The rainbow-god of the Ashanti was also conceived to have the form of a snake. His messenger was said to be a small variety of boa, but only certain individuals, not the whole species, were sacred. In West African mythology in general, Ayida-Weddo is believed to hold up the sky
"Aido Hwedo" = 84 (Ordinal)
9/11 Event on the 231st day of the Gold Snake.
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