Asclepius: The Spirit Behind Modern Medicine?

 

The adoption of Christianity resulted in the decline and extinction of all ancient Greek and Roman religions, now regarded as pagan practices. Many of these left some imprint on Christianity, but the influence of basic medical practices and ethics associated with Asclepius survived through the era of Christian healing. During the Renaissance, these ancient theories relating to the physical factors causing sickness were rediscovered and the progress of medical science was thus reawakened. The staff of Asclepius remains the symbol of medical care today. 

Asclepius, the God of Medicine by Gerald D. Hart MD, page xix

 

The comparison between the 2 symbols at the top of this page is stunning. The first is taken from the back of a bronze coin  from Pergamum in the 2nd-1st century BC and depicts the staff of the Greco-Roman god of medicine, Asclepius. (The head of Asclepius is seen on the front of the coin.)

The second is the logo for the World Health Organization. Is the similarity just coincidental? If we take a step back and look at the history of Asclepius; how the demon-god sought to usurp the true Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; and how he influenced Christianity and modern medicine; we will see the uncanny resemblance is no fluke. 

Asclepius, the counterfeit Jesus

 The old testament prophesied that a Saviour would come, healing the sick and raising the dead. Satan, who opposes everything God does, preempted the arrival of the Messiah by sending Asclepius as a counterfeit god of medicine. As Justin Martyr said: 

And when he [sc., the devil] brings forth Asclepius as the raiser of the dead and healer of the other diseases, may I not say that in this matter likewise he has imitated the prophecies of Christ?

Eusebius called Asclepius:

. .. the god who does not cure souls but destroys them ... the one who draws men away from their true Saviour

 Pergamum: Satan’s seat

Asclepius was worshipped everywhere in the Greco-Roman world, but the 3 most famous temples were at Epidaurus, Cos and Pergamum. In Revelation 2:12-13, Pergamum is called 'Satan's seat'.

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. (KJV)

Christians have traditionally thought that Satan's seat refers to the altar of Zeus at Pergamum (defining seat as something you can sit on rather than as in the seat of government), but consider these facts:

• Asclepius in Pergamum was known as Zeus Asclepius.
• The entire city of Pergamum was dedicated to Asclepius, not to Zeus.
• Although temples of other gods were portrayed on coins of Pergamum, the temple of Asclepius predominated.
• According to Edelstein: When the Christians began their battle against the pagan gods for the souls of humankind, Asclepius was the leading deity in the struggle between the dying world of the pagans and the rising world of the Christians. (Asclepius by Edelstein and Edelstein).

Maybe Pergamum was Satan's seat because of Asclepius, not Zeus.

The war between Christians and Asclepius

In the early centuries AD, Christians and followers of Asclepius were at war. Christian stone masons were beheaded for refusing to make statues to Asclepius. Other Christians were burned alive in Pergamum for refusing to sacrifice to the gods, among them were Carpus, the bishop of Thyateira, Papylus, the deacon of Thyatira, and a woman named Agathonice in about 250 AD. Finally, the Asclepius temples in Pergamum and Cos were destroyed in earthquakes. (Pergamum about 262 AD and Cos about 554 AD.)

Christianity was influenced by Asclepius

The daily ceremonies at the Asclepian temples included singing hymns, sermons, incense, a choir, and the prerequisite of purity. These deeply influenced the formation of the Christian service according to Edelstein. Some go so far as to say, the traditional image of Jesus as portrayed in medieval art came from Asclepius. 

Head of Asclepius, 1st-2nd century AD.

 

Modern medicine founded on Asclepius

DRUGS AND SURGERY

Asclepius was the first to institute the practice of surgery and the art of pharmacology. Other sources reveal that he acquired these by using herbs that had been spilt on the Thessalian Plain by the sorceress, Medea. ... while under Chiron's tutelage, he tended the serpents on Mount Pelion, who taught him their secret knowledge of herbs. (Asclepius, the God of Medicine by Gerald D. Hart MD, page 10)

(In case you're not aware, the word pharmacology comes from the Greek word Pharmakeia, which is translated in the Bible as sorcery.)

The temples of Asclepius had a room called an abaton where patients would sleep in the hope of being visited by Asclepius in their dreams. The hope was that Asclepius would heal them in the dream, or at least give direction as to effective treatment. There are extraordinary accounts of people undergoing abdominal surgery during the night. Such surgery was impossible at that time. 

 'The Temples and Cult of Asclepius' by Robert Thom

 

HIPPOCRATES (460 – c. 370 BC), THE FATHER OF MODERN MEDICINE

Hippocrates was a follower of Asclepius, in fact the original Hippocratic Oath began:

I swear by Apollo The Healer, by Asclepius, by Hygieia, by Panacea, and by all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will carry out, according to my ability and judgment, this oath and this indenture.

 Hippocrates famously said:

Those [diseases] which drugs do not cure are cured by surgery; whose which surgery does not cure are cured by cauterisation; those which cauterisation does not cure must be considered incurable.

This remarkably foreshadowed the current Cut, Poison, Burn approach to cancer.

 

With reference to Greeks coming to Rome, Pliny said:

If that pack pass onto us what they know, it will mean the end of Rome, especially if their doctors come here. For they have sworn death by medicine to the barbarians and the Roman are barbarians to them. Beware of doctors!

According to the BMJ in 2016, Pliny had a point. Medical error is now the 3rd leading cause of death in the USA. It's time to consider what spirit truly lies behind modern medicine and look to the Lord Jesus Christ as our true healer. 

 

Resources

Asclepius, the God of Medicine by Gerald D. Hart MD

 Asclepius: Collection and Interpretation of the Testimonies by Edelstein and Edelstein

Pergamum by Fatih Cimok

Comments

[Rachel Adams]

Wonderful! I have learned all of this from separate sources doing my own research over the last 10 years, but I love to see other people putting it together and putting the truth out there. Many won’t care to hear about this, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s the truth.

[Alison]

Thanks, Rachel. I don't meet many people who are on the same page.

[YCA]

Muy interesante todo lo que nos compartes, estoy de acuerdo con todo y hay más información (Ofiuco, Asclepio o Esculapio, y la Organización Mundial de la Salud) que lo relaciona con satanás...

Les recomiendo un canal en Telegram en español se llama https://t.me/PortadoresDeLaVerdad

[Alison]

Thank you for the information. I've joined the group on Telegram (although my Spanish isn't very good).