Mortals and Olympians alike are grieving today the loss of Asclepius, whose death by thunderbolt has come as a shock to both communities. The beloved hero, well known for his amazing healing powers, will be forever remembered as Ophiuchus in the sky. It is believed that Zeus acted in haste, for the King of the Gods has now been quoted as saying Asclepius will become a deity of healing and medicine.

The son of Apollo and the late Coronis (daughter of King Phlegyas of Thessaly), Asclepius's early medical education was completed at the exclusive private academy run by Chiron the centaur. Other celebrated alumni include Hercules and Achilles.

Asclepius is survived by his father Apollo, grandfather Zeus, aunt Artemis, wife Epione, and seven children: his five daughters Aceso, Iaso, Panacea, Aglaea, and Hygieia, and his two sons, Podalirius and Machaon, both of whom are distinguished veterans of the Trojan War.

Miracle Child

The story of Asclepius's life is shrouded in mystery and contradictory accounts. Those closest to him generally agree on the fact that his passion for healing is a legacy from his divine father, though some claim that this legacy was tainted by the circumstances of his birth. There have been murmurs that Asclepius's fatal decision to defy Zeus and use his extraordinary healing skills to resurrect a dead man--the event that brought about his own demise--may be rooted in his inability as an infant to save his mortal mother from the wrath of his Olympian relatives.

When the Princess Coronis was in the early stages of pregnancy, she is rumored to have had an affair with or married a youth named Ischys. Apollo's pet raven reported the news of her infidelity to Apollo, whose fury was so searing he scorched the bird's white feathers to black. Eyewitness accounts vary, but there is a consensus that Coronis was shot with invisible arrows sent either by Apollo himself or by his enraged twin sister Artemis. Coronis died of her injuries, but as her body was placed on the funeral pyre the remorseful Apollo performed the first Caesarian surgery to save Asclepius. Even in the circumstances of his birth, Asclepius stood out as a pioneer on the frontiers of medicine.

Healer Extraordinaire

Asclepius's near-miraculous cures have benefited sufferers from both major and minor ailments. Heraieus of Mytiline, who complained of baldness, claims to have sprouted a full head of hair during his sleep, after having his head anointed at Asclepius's favorite Free Clinic in Epidaurus. Hermodikos of Lampsakos was cured of an abscess in his chest and paralysis of his arms. Asclepius also healed the blindness of one Hermon the Thasion, but when Hermon failed to leave the customary offering his blindness returned until he revisited and spent another night at the shrine.

Asclepius's stricken followers have determined that Asclepius's work at Epidaurus will be continued after his death, and that his clinic will be kept on as a shrine in honor of his memory.

Although it is hoped that physicians will be able to continue the practice of treating patients for free, board members at the Asklepion have expressed a willingness to accept contributions of cash as well as votive offerings. All proceeds will go toward the upkeep of the premises and the maintenance of sacred snakes. Snakes are an important element of the healing rituals and are often seen in people's dreams during the process of incubation.

Patron of Snakes

In remembrance of Asclepius, the medical association has begun making plans to use his symbol, the serpent coiled around a resting staff, as the basis for the emblem of their association and profession. Discussion has stalled, however, on whether to use the single-snake image that was favored by Asclepius himself or the double-snake caduceus as carried by Hermes. The argument for using two snakes instead of one is that the two snakes would represent the power of death as well as the power of life (see below). Those involved in the decision-making process claim that it may take millennia before this particular choice is finalized.

The duality is important because it has been rumored that Asclepius had the power to cure, the power to raise the dead, and the power to bring about death. Years ago, the goddess Athene gave Asclepius two separate vials of blood from the slain Gorgon Medusa. The blood from the left side was a deadly poison, whereas the blood from the right side could be used to perform miraculous healing. His final use of this potion was to defy the laws of Zeus and Hades by bringing a corpse back to life.

Rule Breaker

Although the final results of the investigation into his death have not been released, there appear to be two conflicting theories regarding what brought about Asclepius's tragic downfall. Most sources agree that the corpse in question was that of Hippolytus, son of Athens' hero-king Theseus and a personal favorite of Asclepius's aunt, the goddess Artemis. Information is hazy, however, as to whether the choice to assassinate the physician was made by Zeus acting alone or at the instigation of his brother, Hades, who was worried that Asclepius's ability would rob his underworld of "clients." Other suspected motives involve the likelihood that Asclepius accepted money in return for his service, thus opening the door to a possibility of high medical bills for patients of the future.

Whether Hippolytus was struck down for a second time in the confusing aftermath of Asclepius's death is not certain. Theseus, who has just lost his wife in a related incident, is not talking to the press at this time regarding the affairs of the Athenian royal family.

Deity in the Making

A round-table discussion is being held on Olympus this weekend regarding the status of Asclepius's deification. Pantheon members in favor of "traditional deification" incline toward simply declaring him to be purged of his mortal status and eligible for full godhood, following the precedent set by Eros's wife Psyche, Dionysos's mother Semele, and Asclepius's old classmate, Hercules. Others argue, however, that his power over life and death would indicate that he had godlike powers all along.

There is an inherent irony in the second position, the type of irony that tickles the fancy of the Olympians. If it is determined that he was born a god, Asclepius will be the first god to have died a mortal death. Some may claim that it is oddly fitting for the god of healing to be the only god to experience mortality.