Hygeia
Publié le 17/01/2022
Extrait du document
Hygeia (Hygieia; Health) Greek Goddess of
physical and mental health. According to some legends,
Hygeia is a daughter of Asclepius, god of
medicine, and granddaughter of Apollo. Her sisters
were Aegle (1) (Brightness), Panacea (All-healing),
and Iaso (Healthy). Her brothers were Machaon,
a surgeon, and Podalirius, a general practitioner.
Hygeia is most often portrayed in the company of
her father or her sisters. Sculptors show her wearing
a long robe and feeding a huge snake from a cup.
The word hygiene derives from this goddess's name,
and the symbol of Hygeia's snake combined with
her father's scepter form the modern symbol of the
medical profession, the caduceus.