View source for Therapeutae of Asclepius

{{Short description|Greek association of a god of medicine}}
{{About|the Greek therapeutae in antiquity|the Jewish sect of the same name|Therapeutae}}
[[File:Asklepios.3.jpg|thumb|right|Symbolic statue of Asclepius holding the [[Rod of Asclepius]], in later times was confused with the [[Caduceus as a symbol of medicine|caduceus]], which has two snakes]]
'''Therapeutae''' (plural) is Latin from the Greek plural ''Therapeutai'' (Θεραπευταί). The term ''therapeutes'' means one who is attendant to the gods<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dqerapeuth%2Fs θερα^π-ευτής], οῦ, ὁ
A. one who serves the gods, worshipper, θ. Ἄρεως, θεῶν, [[Phaedrus (dialogue)|Pl.Phdr]].252c, [[The Laws (Plato)|Lg]].740c; ὁσίων τε καὶ ἱερῶν ib.878a; “τοῦ καλοῦ” [[Philo|Ph]].1.261; οἱ θ. worshippers of [[Sarapis]] or [[Isis]], [[Ulrich Wilcken|UPZ]]8.19 (ii B.C.), [[Inscriptiones Graecae|IG]]11(4).1226 ([[Delos]], ii B.C.); title of play by [[Diphilus]], ib.2.992ii9; name of certain ascetics, [[Philo|Ph]].2.471; θ. ὁσιότητος, of the followers of [[Moses]], ib.177. 2. one who serves a great man, courtier, “οἱ ἀμφὶ τὸν πάππον θ.”
[[Cyropaedia|X.Cyr]].1.3.7. II. one who attends to anything, c. gen., “σώματος” [[Gorgias|Pl.Grg]].517e; “τῶν περὶ τὸ σῶμα” [[Plato's Republic|Id.R]].369d. 2. medical attendant, τῶν καμνόντων [[Plato's Republic|ib]].341c.</ref> although the term, and the related adjective ''therapeutikos''<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dqerapeutiko%2Fs θερα^π-ευτικός], ή, όν, A. inclined to serve, c. gen., “τῶν φίλων” [[Agesilaus|X.Ages]].8.1; “εὐσέβεια δύναμις θ. θεῶν” [[Definitiones|Pl.Def]].412e; “θεοῦ” [[Philo|Ph]].1.202 (but τὸ θ. γένος, = θεραπευταί, Id.2.473); inclined to court, τῶν δυνατῶν, τοῦ πλήθους, [[Parallel Lives|Plutarch Lysander]].2, Comp.[[Parallel Lives|Plutarch Lycurgus]]. Num.2; “τὸ θ. τῆς ὁμιλίας” [[Parallel Lives|Plutarch Lysander]].4. 2. abs., courteous, obsequious, in good and bad sense, [[Hellenica|X.HG]]3.1.28 (Comp.), [[Parallel Lives|Plutarch Lucullus]].16; “θ.παρρησία” Id.2.74a. Adv. “-κῶς” Id.Art.4; “θ. ἔχειν τινός” [[Philo|Ph]].1.186, cf. [[Strabo|Str]].6.4.2. II. inclined to take care of, careful of, λόγου dub. l. in [[Menander|Men]].402.15. 2. esp. of medical treatment, ἕξις θ. a valetudinarian habit of body, [[Politica (Aristotle)|Arist.Pol]].1335b7; ἡ -κή, = θεραπεία, [[Politicus (Plato)|Pl.Plt]].282a; also τὸ -κόν therapeutics, [[Dioscorides|Dsc. Ther]].Praef. (but also τὸ περὶ παθῶν θ., title of a work on moral remedies by [[Chrysippus]], [[Philodemus|Phld.Ir]].p.17 W.); περὶ θ. μεθόδου, title of work by [[Galen]].</ref> carry in later texts the meaning of attending to heal, or treating in a spiritual or medical sense. The Greek feminine plural ''Therapeutrides'' (Θεραπευτρίδες) is sometimes encountered for their female members.<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dqerapeuto%2Fs θερα^π-ευτός], όν, A. that may be fostered or cultivated, [[Protagoras|Pl.Prt]].325b. 2. curable, Paul.Aeg.4.5.</ref><ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dqerapeu%2Ftria θερα^π-εύτρια], ἡ, fem. of A. “θεραπευτής” EM47.45.</ref><ref>LSJ [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dqerapeutri%2Fs θερα^π-ευτρίς], ίδος, ἡ,= foreg., [[Philo|Ph]].1.261, 655: pl., as title of certain female ascetics, [[Philo|Id]].2.471.</ref> The term therapeutae may occur in relation to followers of [[Asclepius]] at Pergamon, and ''therapeutai'' may also occur in relation to worshippers of [[Sarapis]] in inscriptions, such as on [[Delos]].<ref>Voluntary Associations in the Graeco-Roman World John S. Kloppenborg, Stephen G. Wilson - 2012 "Vidman thinks they were simple worshipers united in a loose association (1970:69, 125 38); cf. therapeutae of Asclepius at Pergamon ([[Christian Habicht (historian)|Habicht]] 1969:114 15). melan-phoroi; cf. Poland, s.v. melan-phoroi, PW 15:408 14; [[Ulrich Wilcken|Wilcken]] 1927 57, 1:8,"....Footnote 33..The latter is found of worshipers of Sarapis in inscriptions (LSJ cites [[Inscriptiones Graecae|IG]] XI/4 second century BCE Delos)</ref>
The '''therapeutae of Asclepius''' were a recognized and designated association in antiquity that included the physicians, their attendants and support staff, in the larger temples of [[Asclepius]]. These healing temples were known as [[Asclepeion]]s. Examples of famous therapeutae of Asclepius prior to 300 BCE include many presocratic philosophers such as [[Parmenides]] and [[Empedocles]] according to [[Peter Kingsley|ongoing scholarship]]. Asclepeion's between 300 BCE and 300 CE include [[Hippocrates]], [[Apollonius of Tyana]], [[Aelius Aristides]] and [[Galen]]. The Greek word {{lang|el|θεραπευτής}} has the primary meaning of 'one who serves the gods, or 'worshipper'.<ref>{{LSJ|qerapeuth/s|θερα^π-ευτής|shortref}}</ref>
Aelius Aristides in the later 2nd century writes: ''"We Asclepius therapeutae must agree with the god that Pergamum is the best of his sanctuaries."'' - Sacred Tales (39.5)   Galen used his designation of "therapeutae" to secure from the Roman Emperor [[Marcus Aurelius]] exemption from military service.
In their book ''Voluntary Associations in the Graeco-Roman World'' the authors state: "Some therapeutae are known to have rented apartments within the sanctuary in order to be close to the deity'' (Apileius, Met, 11.19.1). ''Very little is known about the purpose of the therapeutae. Vidman thinks they were simple worshipers united in a loose association (1970:69, 125-38). ''cf. therapeutae of Asclepius at Perganon'' (Habicht 1969: 114-115)"<ref>Voluntary Associations in the Graeco-Roman World, edited by [[John S. Kloppenborg]], Stephen G. Wilson.</ref>
The following authors (in their books) make reference to the therapeutae:
* [[Claudius Aelianus|Aelian]]:  [[De Natura Animalium]], [[Varia Historia]]
* [[Aristides]]:  [[Orationes]]
* Athenaeus:  The Deipnosophists
* Basil:  Epistulae
* [[Claudius Ptolemy]]:  Tetrabiblos
* [[Clement of Alexandria]]:  Protrepticus
* Dionysius of Halicarnassus:  Antiquitates Romanae Books I-III, VII-IX
* Eusebius of Caesarea:  Historia ecclesiastica
* Greek Anthology:  Volume II
* John of Damascus:  Vita Barlaam et Joasaph
* Julian the Emperor:  Epistulae
* Plato:  Euthydemus, Protagoras, Gorgias, Meno, Laws, Parmenides, Philebus, Symposium, Phaedrus, Republic
* Plutarch:  Maxime cum principbus philosopho esse diserendum
* [[Strabo]]:  Geography
* Xenophon:  Cyropaedia
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Ancient Greek medicine]]
[[Category:Asclepius]]