Tall, thin brass statue of the Greek god Aesculapius; the figure is naked, holding in its left hand a staff the height of the figure's hip with a large snake coiled around it; in the figure's right hand, it is holding up a cup at the height of its mouth; the figure is bearded and stands upon a whit…
Tall, thin brass statue of the Greek god Aesculapius; the figure is naked, holding in its left hand a staff the height of the figure's hip with a large snake coiled around it; in the figure's right hand, it is holding up a cup at the height of its mouth; the figure is bearded and stands upon a white stone base with a thin sheet of fabric on the bottom; the figure is fixed onto the base with metal by its left foot; on the side of the base at the front is a small gold sticker with the maker's name and location printed on it in black ink.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Belonged to donor. Given to donor by original owner Dr. Lyle Howlett purchased in Greece in the 1960s.
Christopher D. Sclavenitis (in its Greek form, Christophoro D. Sklavenitis) was a sculptor and ceramist in Greece in the 20th century, a member of the Hellenic Chamber of Arts. He created many statues and artistic pieces, including a chess set. He was a student of Modigliani, and made many statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses. Some of his work was featured on the television show Battlestar Galactica.
Aesculapius, or his original Greek name Asklepios, was the Greco-Roman god of medicine, son of Apollo and Princess Coronis. Aesculapius' children include Hygeia, goddess of health, and Panaceia, goddess of healing. Aesculapius was raised and trained in healing by Chiron the centaur. Aesculapius became a powerful and influential healer, eventually becoming able to raise the dead. This angered Zeus, who killed him with a thunderbolt. Influential and important figures in medicine referred to Aesculapius, such as Hippocrates in the first line of the Hippocratic Oath: "I swear by Apollo the physician, and Asclepius, and Hygieia and Panacea and all the gods and goddesses as my witnesses, that, according to my ability and judgement, I will keep this Oath and this contract", and Galen, who was healed in an Aesculapian temple. The snake colied around a staff which he carries is a symbol of medicine to this day, commonly mistaken for a caduceus, which is the wand of Hermes and also used as a medical symbol.