The Messed Up Mythology™ of Asclepius, God of Medicine | Mythology Explained - Jon Solo

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▼ Timestamps ▼
» 0:00 - An Important God
» 1:20 - Sponsor
» 2:41 - The God of Medicine
» 5:49 - Birth & Early Life
» 10:10 - Mythological Malpractice
» 13:49 - Ascension
► Want more?
» ALL Mythology Explained: bit.ly/MythologyExplained
» Norse Mythology: bit.ly/NorseMythologyExplained
» ALL Messed Up Origins: bit.ly/MessedUpOrgins
» Disney Explained: bit.ly/DisneyExplained
» Folklore Explained: bit.ly/FablesExplained
» Astrology: bit.ly/AstrologyExplained
» Messed Up Murders: bit.ly/MurderPlaylist
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▼ Credits ▼
» Researched by: Jon Solo & Meredith Walker
» Written by: Jon Solo
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▼ Resources ▼
» my favorites: messeduporigins.com/books
» Asclepius Overview: www.theoi.com/Ouranios/Asklep...
» Homeric Hymn to Asclepius: www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/...
▼ Art Sources ▼
» The art of Asclepius healing Plutus and dying was created for the show by Markus Stadlober! Check out more of his mythological masterpieces!
www.artstation.com/elderscroller
/ markus.stadlober.art
» If I used your art in any portion of this video please send a message to my business email with proof that you're the original artist so I can give you credit!
▼ Music Sources ▼
» REVEALING MY INTRO SONG! goo.gl/Z9eHu1
» Background Music: Killing Time Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
» Quotes 3 by Anders Bothén: goo.gl/Lz9ADE
#Asclepius #GreekMythology #MythologyExplained

[@JonSolo]

Thanks to Keeps for sponsoring this episode! Head to keeps.com/jonsolo to get 50% off your first order of hair loss treatment.

[@TheInfamousWolf]

I'm missing the Norse videos 💔

[@soterrible801]

Thanks Jon mate appreciate it

[@lulteezy3023]

@JonSolo would you ever test that Apollo theory on the 2000 babies👍🏽 Apollo the God of possiblity, God of the sun? Therefore anyone born under the sun is a child on the Sun like any other Zodiac Sign?...😇

[@demetriusmontrell]

@jonsolo thank you for another mythology explain. Greek mythology is my fave that and Egypt learning about the other set of gods get more interesting every time. And thank keeps too for the sponsor

[@Dahaka-rd6tw]

Can I make coupe of reguests? movie and fairy tale "LIttle Otik" And fairy tales mentioned that make up the 2015 movie "Tale of Tales"

[@killgriffinnow]

Asclepius is the ultimate Chad of Greek Mythology. He was so advanced even the gods were terrified of him, it seems to be an analogy for science slowly taking over from religion, and how religion itself feared science.

[@silverink1824]

i can seev your point on this i like it as much as i like sekhmets story and i hope to see how she fits that thought as she was a really scary goddess to the point she had to be weakened

[@alabaster2163]

Medicine back then is NOT what it is today. It was plant based therefore came nature and was part of the natural order or laws if you will. There was no contention. The contention was between different religions and of course people to studied astrology and alchemy. Astrology explains much of diety away.

[@doomguy9049]

Sadly you're closer to the truth than ppl might care to think: science has become the modern religion in it's own right complete with temples, priests, saints, commandments, sacraments etc. Mankind has never and will never be free of religion, it's just the names of the gods and their rituals that change over time.

[@leeeverett8693]

Damn

[@killgriffinnow]

@@doomguy9049 Science doesn’t have any “commandments” or “sacraments” because it doesn’t offer any moral guidance whatsoever. This isn’t really a great thing though because it offers us a huge amount of power (including the reshaping of the world’s ecosystem and climate) without the ability to actually use it wisely.

[@jenniferschillig3768]

The only daughter of Asclepius I knew of was Hygeia, who assisted her father in his temples. It was her idea to make sure each physician and patient were thoroughly washed with soap and water, which improved their prospects--before this, it was believed that soap and water were fatal to the sick. Of course, her name shares the root of the word "hygiene."

[@mickgorro]

And means "health".

[@doomguy9049]

I didn't even know they had soap in antiquity like that tbh but it makes sense they'd have some equivalent and use it fairly regularly even if they didn't know about microbes or their role in spreading disease

[@leeeverett8693]

Wow

[@JonSolo]

Very cool! Asclepius actually had several children, but none are very fleshed out figures. They basically each embodied a specific aspect of his powers: Iaso (healer), Aegle (radiance), Panacea (cure-all), and Hygeia (hygiene).

[@That80sGuy1972]

Ancient Greek 1: Our people are so superstitious. We are discovering marvelous things that often clash with their beliefs. Ancient Greek 2: Hold on, I just heard from one of the oracles that... Ancient Greek 1: You mean those ladies the lecherous elders keep doped up who babble things while they actually use them for... Ancient Greek 2: SHHHH! Okay, the oracle was contacted by a goddess Hygeia about washing... Ancient Greek 1: Oh... right... use their superstitions... I mean, word of the gods via the oracles.

[@foodofthegods]

Asclepius is probably my favorite after Hypnos Because they’re actually good guys Chiron was not only half man half horse but also a doctor of medicine, making him the centaur for disease control (they’re called Asclepian snakes btw)

[@bobbyanderson1054]

⚰️

[@user-yp6kn2uw4k]

Asclepius killed Paeon out of envy. So this Asclepius was not so good.🤨😱

[@lydellcortez8283]

This was so cool. I'm a huge fan of obscure and unknown facts. I'd never heard of Asclepius before this video.

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

Same :)

[@geraldmcmichael9970]

Me aslo

[@dannyboyakadandaman504furl9]

I have it’s in the old hipaacratic oath.

[@brokenfoxproductions]

I would love for you to do a video on the Greek wind deities and the myths they're involved in at some point. I named my son Zephyr after the western wind, and he's starting to watch your videos over my shoulder (he's about to be 4, so I try to keep him away from the less child friendly parts) and it would be great to be able to show him a video sometime explaining what he's named after. Btw- your videos also helped sell us on the name Athena for his little sister, who's going to be arriving this summer. You're getting mini Solo cups now lol

[@DsgSleazy]

Naming your son after a Greek god of wind? That is the coolest shit I've ever heard.

[@willow9216]

you fr named your kid zephyr… ok💀

[@emmasmith2380]

Maybe Asclepius is the reason why roosters are able to kill basilisks

[@drlego2660]

i think of a basilisk as a cockatrice (viper)

[@professorfarmgirl9662]

The gods hated healers. They hated the idea of humans (or anything else) learning pharmakia because suffering humans give more offerings.

[@Fennily]

Hmmm 🤔 theres a modern analogy here 🧐

[@AntoinettexKitten]

Basically preachers

[@user-yp6kn2uw4k]

Asklepius hated his student, Paeon. Asclepius killed Paeon out of envy. So this Asclepius was not so good.

[@BestFriendsWhoLiveTogether]

I think he’s underrated because both Apollo and Hermes have been said to be gods of medicine at some point

[@sonofcronos7831]

Only Apollo is the god of medicine. Hermes was confused with that title later, because of his staff and the fact that Asclepius also has a staff. Apollo being the god of medicine is not a problem, since Asclepius is his son anyway. For example, Zeus is also a god of wisdom, but his daughter Athena embodies that too, in the same light Apollo is the god of medicine, but his son Asclepius embodies that to

[@BestFriendsWhoLiveTogether]

@@sonofcronos7831 Apollo was the god of healing, not medicine. Sorry, year younger me was a bit ignorant

[@zuser]

Asclepius is one of those Greek Gods that are actually fair and good, likely due to his mortal life and the natural empathy that comes to anyone dedicating themselves to the concept of healing.

[@DitaDike1993]

As ex nurse, and now constant learning process addicted artist ( student mode active since i started reading 😀), i do love interesting brainfood. ✅ Thank you!

[@kaloarepo288]

Fun fact -the candy striped barber's pole originated with the staff of Aesculapius as barbers in former times were also surgeons..There are also Egyptian connections with this god -he was equated by the Greeks with the Egyptian god of healing who in turn was based on a real historical figure Imhotep who was the vizier to the pharaoh Djoser builder of the step pyramid.Actually Imhotep designed the pyramid but was also a skilled physician hence he was confounded in later times with the god of healing.

[@katieholland4244]

The image of barbers also doing heart surgery is amusing

[@rohanwilliams239]

The barber pole did not start with his staff. The barber pool started from the fact that barbers were also dentists. The pool started from them letting their bandages dry The red being the red bandages along the pole. Really gross and kind of messy but true

[@tothboy01]

The link between Imhotep and Asclepius may suggest that Asclepius was a god of medical marijuana and opium, since both those drugs were used in ancient Egypt. According to Egyptian mythology, the god Thoth invented opium, and the sun god Ra created cannabis.

[@yoeyyoey8937]

@@rohanwilliams239what does that have to do with dentistry

[@yoeyyoey8937]

@@tothboy01where does it say these deities creates these plants?

[@mleighqs]

I actually looked into this figure while I was studying the constellations and wrote a story around him. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on his constellation in the future :)

[@magnus2292]

Love these mythology videos, especially the Greek ones, it’s actually what got me into mythology

[@dafttool]

Greek Mythology is the Gateway Drug of Mythologies. 🕳 🐇

[@thespartan1296]

I love this series, as they are entertaining, engaging, and of course it's good to have better understanding about the gods I worship, Thanks man🔥🔥💪

[@TheInfamousWolf]

You gotta Hand it to Apollo, what a loving God. I'd be furious too if my son was killed. What a Chad, he fearlessly confronted his own father, (Zues) the Mightiest of them all.

[@despinasgarden.4100]

For god standars, he is a pretty good father.

[@Haley_Halo]

I first heard that tale of snakes with medicinal leaves in a Grimm's fairytale, witnessed by a groom who was buried alive with his dead bride. It's fascinating, snakes have been associated with healing/resurrection/immortality since the Epic of Gilgamesh when a snake stole his life-giving seaweed. There's also a parallel between Asclepius's single serpent staff and the bronze statue used by Moses during the Israelite's years in the wilderness. You always get me thinking and making connections; it's energizing, so thank you for that gift, Jon!

[@YourQueerGreatAuntie]

In Irish mythology, our healing figures also indulge in some familicide! (Dían Cécht, Míach and Airmed in the Cath Maige Tuired)

[@amazinggrace5692]

As a physician I know of Asclepius, but was great to see you cover him and learn in depth as is your forté. Thanks for pointing out the difference in the two snake-wrapped staffs. I’m probably not the only one who occasionally hums your theme ditty during my day. You are appreciated, Jon. Much love 💕🐝🇺🇸☃️ ps. When I met my husband he had a truck named Millie ... for the Millenium Falcon of course. We both love “Jon shot first” 🙂

[@neilpage9341]

Another great video, could you also cover his children. You mention two but his more important one was hygieae (goddess of public health and hygiene), agele and iaso also

[@KattyGamma]

I've never heard of Asclepius until now and he is quite interesting, thanks Jon.

[@Leonsaree]

Asclepius is Apollo's son and moreover the god of medicine sort of taking the role from Apollo with one of my favorite stories of him being resurrecting a male friend of Artemis (A rare occurrence) glad to see you explaining his backstory and will be back after watching the video

[@angelacooper8973]

I thought Zeus killed him before he could resurrect Orion. And Orion was very close to being the husband of Artemis.

[@Leonsaree]

@@angelacooper8973 sorry for the late reply and it wasn't Orion, he actually died, it was a male friend of Artemis who was on the brink of death and Artemis rushed too Asclepius and he revived him and the she made him a priest to work in a temple of her's i believe. (if i find anything new of the story ill comment again)

[@sonofcronos7831]

@@angelacooper8973 it was the hunter Hypolitus that Asclepius brought back, not Orion

[@misspenguinsupreme9923]

Would you consider doing central and south American gods one day?

[@freddymeisner]

That would be really cool

[@zulfanbatrisyia]

No . Boringggg

[@applekiwi8073]

@@zulfanbatrisyia How is that boring?

[@misspenguinsupreme9923]

@@applekiwi8073 he's just a troll, best to just ignore him

[@valeriag9443]

Asclepius is canonically Apollo’s favorite doctor in the Riordanverse

[@brucedressel8873]

Pagan fraud.

[@thomasnuedling9167]

I'd never heard of him, but I was familiar with the staff and snake. This was very interesting! Thank you for making me more knowledgeable! Jon, you are the god of mythology!

[@crazyinbrooklyn9452]

Man, I NEED you to do some Egyptian mythology!!!

[@RD0204]

Considering how the 'myth' has been disproven that Julius Caesar was born by what we now call Caesarean Section (up until the 19th century in Europe a Caesarean was a last ditch attempt to save the baby if the mother died in childbirth: the alternative was something called a symphysiotomy, which sounds like something out of a slasher film and was actually continued practice in the Republic of Ireland until the 1970's; there's pretty much no chance Caesar grew up with his birth mum and yet there's records of her existing after he was born. I'm aware that Maternal survival rates with Caesearean sections were more than 0% in some African tribes, but I doubt that a Roman midwife or physician would be aware of that method) anyone think we should rename Caesarean sections "Asclepian Sections?"

[@EBThisThat]

I just read 'Pandora's Boy', where I was introduced to Min. Interested to hear your take on fertility gods such as him. Davies describes him well enough (and there are some hilarious jokes that follow in the book considering him) and I'm just curious about lesser known Gods like Min.

[@tothboy01]

Ah yes, Min, the Egyptian version of the Greek god Priapus, if you know what I mean. lol

[@malcolmjackson1653]

Never too early for new information. Amazing work my guy💯🖤

[@SpringStargazer]

You may be the only youtuber I follow that makes it worth it to sit through the sponsor part of the videos. I absolutely love your videos and I learned a lot from this one.

[@Cc-xh6pn]

New content!!!! Love the humor and content!

[@renfoster6721]

I look forward to your videos every week and month

[@lyndsycarson8302]

Really great, i’ve never heard more of him but the doctor son of apollo so i enjoyed this a lot.

[@KPazzz]

You look great, Jon (as always)!Another excellent video!

[@rubyambler2005]

Great job! Never really heard this one!

[@lahlybird895]

John: he's the only God to be born completely mortal Also John: all sources agree that his father was Apollo

[@mlapointej]

In Greek Mythology a godly parent only sometimes meant someone was already an immortal god themselves, mostly they were mortal if one parent was mortal.

[@lahlybird895]

@@mlapointej well if that's the case he wouldn't be the only one either because of Heracles

[@bobbyanderson1054]

Or Perseus.... And other demigods

[@jorgeescrat7124]

@@bobbyanderson1054 Perseus and the other demigods did not become gods except for Dionysus.

[@deathwithbenefits4002]

I’d imagine thanatos and hades doesn’t really like him cus he’s stopping Thanatos doing his job also if Asclepius does his resurrection would just be more paperwork for both of them

[@cadaverouspawn]

Man, I love this channel!

[@areiaaphrodite]

You know you're really Greek when your Dad's name is Asclepius and your name is Aphrodite 😅🤦‍♀️(Story of my life)

[@KPazzz]

Haha that’s awesome!

[@annaroselarsen4218]

Awesome video!

[@kiyblackmoon]

Love the vid and the beard Jonbro!

[@glasscityfishwitch3116]

As someone that falls potentially under Ophiuchus please do the topic. I love your videos.

[@juliohernandez8892]

Wow what an epic episode, super interesting

[@kingblazee2511]

Soooo I just wanted to say I love your channel a lot, I’ve been watching it since maybe 2018?? I’m not sure when you started doing the early Disney explain videos and I like learning about mythology and other historical stuff. Today/ January 31st 20202 is lunar new year and I was wondering if you ever thought about doing videos about the months or other holidays events?

[@MrColej90]

Imhotep was also deified by the Greeks as Asclepius, the god of healing. Imhotep stood out from the mists of antiquity in part because his practices were unlike those of others of his era.

[@cleoharper1842]

For the god of medicine I would sacrifice my goat. If I had one. He can't have my dog though. He can have my neighbor's dogs. Hell, he can have my neighbor.

[@g.n.a4871]

Are you going to kill you neighbor and or his dog

[@cleoharper1842]

@@g.n.a4871 LMAO No, it was a joke. Anyway I don't have to; she's literally too stupid to survive much longer on her own and anyone who takes her dogs will undoubtedly improve their lives and therefore their attitudes.

[@smiththeinspiringanimator7042]

Awesome and cool!

[@marcelostalker]

Supremely cool and underrated god right here. By the way, I heard there is a story of when Asclepius was dead and he started healing the other dead, and they started to come back to life, so Hades had to go to Zeus like "Brother, you just made the problem worse, help me". Maybe it is some modern invention, I don't know, but the idea amuses me.

[@theanimeunderworld8338]

We need other myths of mortals becoming gods

[@Macaco42_1]

Time to ascend the mortal plane lads

[@lisamcgrath9314]

jon solo is so cool and fun to learn

[@justineharper3346]

Woah. I’m not an expert on Greek Mythology, but I thought I knew the basics. I’ve never even heard of this dude. It’s nice to learn new things 😊

[@IshtheStomach]

strong work... frankly I'm just happy when the distinction between his staff and the caduceus is made correctly.

[@oliverfulayter5515]

Love your content Jon

[@MaikasCooking]

Great episode

[@shadowwood549]

I love your videos!

[@noodleman5212]

I love your videos p.s can’t wait till you talk about Poseidon

[@ConservativeKetchup]

finally, someone points out that Zeus is the worst Grandpa/Uncle in history. Also yes Asclepius over stepped by bringing back the dead, death is a crucial part of the human ecosystem and besides; No one dying means Caron is out of a job and Hades gets bored.

[@funnyl4195]

Coronis = Corona = Coronavirus meaning Coronis is pissed at us, and she grounded Alecipius for him to not cure us. It all makes sense

[@kevinchong5424]

The god of healing and medicine doesn’t get the love & appreciation he deserves, just like in the medical workers

[@sambo-zo8425]

watching this while having covid this made my day

[@sourceawry4035]

The rod of Aesclepius currently appears on the logo for the World Health Organization. After her death, Coronis was put into the sky as the constellation Corvus, for crow. Corvus is the genus containing all ravens, rooks, and crow. Good stuff. Cheers!

[@jasoncombs1875]

Hey john! I wanna know more about Hermes trismegistas letter to aesclepius. I think that's how he learned to raise the dead. Can you do a video on that. The Divine pymander or poimandres

[@rosemaryherr6713]

Thanks!

[@IsaidwhatIsaid10]

So true. One embrace could change a family forever and it has. R.I.P. Mom 🕊️👑🫶🏾🤎

[@emeraldeclipse9711]

11:22 had to catch everyone off guard lol “Wait…y’all did WHAT to get the worm out?!” Hopefully he got new staff after that

[@sherilynlum-alarcon5007]

Cool story thank you Jon

[@macthurmenbutist2180]

RECOMMENDATION. could you consider making a video related to, the witcher garalt of rivia ?

[@torig4140]

He was just doing what he loved : healing people. He wasn't wrong in immorality and what he did with it. He is a passionate person when it came to medicine. How would you like it if someone told you " hey you can't do what you love! Stupid idiot." You would not like it.

[@cthesuperior]

Great video! I hope you cover Japanese mythology soon.

[@despinasgarden.4100]

Zeus: *kills Asclepius* Apollo: In terms of thunderbolts, father, you have no thunderbolts. *Proceeds to kill the Cyclops*

[@ImpastaLarry]

i love greek mythos, and on top of that i have been playing hade =s so its really funny i found your vids

[@user-js1yb5rk6c]

Man I love Jon solo

[@LittleWelderGypsy]

Looking forward to the Ophiuchus episode. Being that the "Lost 13th sign" begins on my birthday in November...😏

[@___David__]

Now now... You know Darth Plagueis didn't bring people from death. He learned how to stop them from dying. Important difference :P

[@jeffereyhopkins750]

His name is the genus name for butterfly weed.

[@michaelazariah73]

I love jon solo sense of humor😊😊😊😅😅😅

[@calvinmcneil9824]

In the Disney's Hercules the animated series he got killed because he was just keeping people alive longer but it backfired as he was healing the citizens of Hades so Hades sent him back up after telling him about gulf

[@tinyred9710]

Jon can you do a video about Hermes and a video about Kairos? Is there enough mythos content for that?

[@dafttool]

The first documented use of Duct Tape.

[@Krfification101]

Dude the picture of Asclepius being given to Chiron is hilarious because the baby looks like a little old man! XD

[@unkelbin5739]

Liked and subscribed 👍

[@deboralee1623]

"Enough is enough! I have had it with these ************ snakes in this ************ temple!"

[@maryl5806]

No way I'm this early.. True Solo fan :D

[@olgagachaphoenix9130]

How did I miss this

[@NanaBowana]

Do Dionysus soon! Also looking forward to Egyptian mythology and Anubis (those are both of my deities ❤️)

[@SeishinBan]

Hey Jon I’ve just recently found your channel and I absolutely love your work. I was curious though do you know about a game called smite? If you’ve already talked about it in a previous video that’s cool I was wondering.

[@VictorHernandez-nj2lo]

Please do videos on Yankee Doodle & that nursery rhyme about an old man bumping his head

[@elliot2338]

Could you do Hygia next??

[@Bookwormtalksabout]

Since you’re doing underrated gods can you do hestia because she is my favorite goddess.

[@user-ov6jg4ug9d]

Thank you

[@marchingcamel420]

Hey Jon Solo!! Can you try to do the story of the little prince and maybe the movie too. I have so many questions for it. Please please please do it. You are awesome BTW. 👍😁

[@jenniferlonnes7420]

Ophiucus - thanks for explaining that.

[@Enterprise-D666]

I remember a different version of the story of how Asclepius died. In this version he was summoned by Theseus (who at this time had been king of Athens for a few decades) to save his son’s life but when Asclepius arrived, the son had just died and Theseus was angry and threatened to kill him, so Asclepius brought the son back while Hermes was still on his way to the underworld with his shade/ghost. Because of this, Hades got angry and so had Zeus kill Asclepius with a thunderbolt. I also remember Apollo actually killing the SONS of the three elder Cyclopes because as Arges, Brontes, and Steropes were technically gods, they couldn’t be killed.

[@greyworld6242]

An interesting underrated god.

[@Fennily]

Very similar to Miach of Celtic lore, cept it was his own father who cut his brain in half, when he died and was burried 365 herbs grew from his grave and his sister knowing in that moment they grew in such a way indicating how they could be used to heal, but upon harvesting them in an organized fashion their father came by and scattered them disorganizing them.

[@fatematuzzohora7628]

That woman being cut off was hilarious🤣

[@jasoncombs1875]

Hey John Hermes trismajistus in the Divine pymander is speaking to aesclepius can you do a video on this. It may be where he learns how to raise the dead

[@slateslater136]

Awesome information buddy! Should blur the centaurs balls though lol

[@erictaylor5462]

4:00 "Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes? "Asps. Very dangerous. You go first."

[@dustinbennett3297]

Asclepius earned u a new sub!

[@ladykoiwolfe]

Woot! Asclepius! I guess you can tell I like the guy. I'm going to use his rod as a feature for a medical tattoo I'm planning on getting.

[@iamcoolalot]

the artwork at 1:01 reminds me of the heaven's gate cult