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Archaios Numismatics Description: Ancient Greek Bronze Coin of Pergamon in Mysia, Asia Minor, circa 4th to 3rd century B.C. Obverse: Helmeted Head of Asclepios (as Zeus) Reverse: Coiled Serpent entwined around Omphalos ASKLHPIOS/SOTHPOS Size: 23 mm Weight: 6.98 g Ref: SNG Cop. -- ; SNG VanAulock 1372 Inventory: 54.4; Condition: VF. Interesting coin type. As always, Please use the Pictures as your judge as grading is subjective. Notes: Ancient Pergamon in Asia Minor was one of the prominent locations which had a dedicated asclepeion (or healing temple) according to the geographer of the 1st century BC, Strabo. From the fifth century BC onwards, the cult of Asclepius grew very popular and pilgrims flocked to his healing temples (Asclepieia) to be cured of their ills. In honor of Asclepius, a particular type of non-venomous snake was often used in healing rituals, and these snakes — the Aesculapian Snakes — slithered around freely on the floor in dormitories where the sick and injured slept. These snakes were introduced at the founding of each new temple of Asclepius throughout the classical world. Asclepios (Asclepius) was a Greek god of medicine representing the healing arts and his daughters were Hygieia ("Hygiene", the goddess/personification of health, cleanliness, and sanitation), Iaso (the goddess of recuperation from illness), Aceso (the goddess of the healing process), Aglæa/Ægle (the goddess of the glow of good health), and Panacea (the goddess of universal remedy). The rod of Asclepius, a snake-entwined staff, remains a symbol of medicine today.
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