Getty Museum

Asclepius

Date

first half of 2nd century A.D.

Medium

Bronze

Culture

Roman

Department

Sculpture

Institution

Getty Museum

In ancient mythology, Asclepius (Greek: Asklepios) was the son of Apollo and a mortal woman. He inherited the healing skills of his father, who was the traditional Greek healing god. Beginning in the late 500s B.C., the cult of Asklepios spread from a small local following to an important one recognized throughout Greece. It was especially popular in the Hellenistic period and was subsequently adopted by the Romans.Asclepius is depicted here as a mature, bearded man accompanied by his sacred animal, the snake. On his head is a ring-shaped crown made of twisted fabric, and on his feet, tongued sandals. Over his bare torso, he wears an ample himation which is wound around his waist, tucked up under the right arm and then drawn across the back so that it wraps around the left shoulder and arm. The figurine presents a stylistic blend: a Roman work copying a Hellenistic statue that derives from an earlier Classical one. The influence of Hellenistic sculpture is apparent in the way the right arm is freed from the torso, allowing a slight twisting movement in the body. Given its correspondence in size and workmanship, it was probably made as a pair with the figure of Salus (Greek; Hygeia) [[96.AB.195.2](http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/29593/unknown-maker-salus-roman-first-half-of-2nd-century-ad/)], daughter of Asclepius. Both would have served as votive offerings or objects of devotion in a household shrine.

The authoritative record is held by Getty Museum. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.