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Hygeia, Health,
HÜGA1
Alternate meaning: Heath-Bringer.
[to Whom the twenty-seventh day of May, day 147, is dedicated]
Geography/Culture: Greek: especially Titane. Devotion to Her was introduced to Athens in 420 BC.
Linguistic Note: related English words: hygiene, hygenic etc.
Description: Originally: Radiant Goddess of healing powers and medicine.
Later also: Preserver of humanity from sickness; Protectress of humanity from all dangers on land and sea.
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Iconography: often depicted as a maiden of benevolent appearance, wearing the chiton and giving food or drink to a snake out of a dish [probably a patera, meaning making a libation].
To Whom Sacred: the all-heal mistletoe (loranthus and ixias); snake.
Male Associates: consort/father, Asclepius.
Titles/Variants, etc:
- Title of Athene, Who existed in Athens before the introduction of Hygeia, as a separate Goddess, with Whom Her healing attributes became identified.
- Daughter of Epione, below.
- Sister to: Iaso, below.
- {Perhaps to be identified with Oulia, below.}
- Sister to: Panacaea, Healer, below.
- Among the Romans She was identified with Salus, below.
- The Romans translated Her name as: Valetudo, [Health-Bringer], and identified Her with Salus.
Sources: EB/Hygeia; GMv1/175; GMv2/index; NLEM/170.
Epione, ---.
]PYONA
Geography/Culture: Greek.
Male Associates: consort, Asclepius, god of healing; sons, Machaon, mortal king and surgeon, Podalirius, mortal king and surgeon, and Janiscus.
Titles/Variants, etc:
- Mother of Acesis, Remedy.
- Perhaps Mother of Aigle, (linked with Hesperides), Who is sometimes said to be the Daughter of Asclepius.
- Mother of Hygeia.
- Mother of Iaso, below.
- Mother of Panacea, below.
Source:: Kravitz WWGRM 37, 90, 146, 194
Iaso, Healer.
Y*SO
Alternate meaning: She-Who-Cures.
Geography/Culture: Greek.
Description: Goddess of healing.
Titles/Variants, etc:
- Daughter of Epione.
Source: WWGRM/125.
Oulia, The-Healer.
WLY1
Geography/Culture: Greek.
Description: Goddess of purification and healing.
Male Associates: Apollo-Oulios.
Titles/Variants, etc:
- Sur-Title of Artemis, High-Source-of-Water.
- {Perhaps to be identified with Hygeia.}
Source: Encyc Brit v2 664a.
Panacaea, All-Healing.
P1N1KI1
Alternate meanings: Healer.
Geography/Culture: Greek
Linguistic Note: Roman orthography from Greek panakeia, itself from panakes, 'All healing': pan, 'all', plus akos, 'cure'. Related English word: panacea. .
To Whom Sacred: perhaps mistletoe (the pancea)
Titles/Variants, etc:
- Daughter of Epione.
Source: AHDEL; Kravitz WWGRM/175
Salus, {Wholeness}.
S1LUS
Alternate meanings: Health.
Geography/Culture: Italy: Old Italic.
A temple on the Qurinal was eracted to Her in 302 B.C.
Linguistic Note: from Latin stem salut-, 'health',' whole, uninjured'. Related English words: safe, salubrious, salutary, salute.
Description: Originally associated with agriculture, She became: Goddess of well-being, health, prosperity and public welfare. {Vermeule says: abstract idea, personification of allegory.}
To Whom Sacred: ears of grain (Her older attribute).
Iconography: She is often depicted with Hygeia's snake and bowl.
Festival: March 30, when prayers were offered to Her. She was also appealed to in times of great sickness.
Titles/Variants, etc:
- Perhaps Cloacina, could be considered an aspect of Her.
- She forms a triad with Concordia and Pax, qv Concordia.
- The Romans identified Her with Greek Hygeia, Health.
- She bore the sur-name of Publica -- Salus-Publica, [She-Who-Cares-for-Public-Health].
- The translation of Hygeia's name into Latin Valetudo, V1L]TWDO, [Health-Bringer], may have served as a title for Salus.
Source: WWGRM/165, 208; FWSDMFL/968; GRARE/8.
worked on: May 1996; May 1995; August 6, 1991.
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