hymn · Greek

Prayer to Asclepius

Asclepius · Apollo · Hygieia · Iaso · Aegle · Panacea · Epione · Machaon · Podaleirius

Sing, youths, of Paian, skill-famed, Leto's son, Far-shooter — ie Paian! — who fathered a great joy for mortals when he mingled in love with Koronis in the land of the Phlegyai — ie Paian! — Asklepios, the most famous god — ie Paian! By him were fathered Makhaon and Podaleirios and Iaso — ie Paian! — and fair-eyed Aigle and Panakea, children of Epione, along with Hygieia, all-glorious, undefiled; ie Paian! Asklepios, the most famous god — ie Paian! Greetings I give you: graciously visit our wide-spaced city — ie Paian! — and grant that we look on the sun's light in joy, approved with the help of Hygieia, all-glorious, undefiled : ie Paian! — Asklepios, the most famous god — ie Paian!

Commentarius · Commentary

One of the most important surviving Greek cult hymns — not a literary piece but a working one: it was cut in stone at Erythrai to be sung, and its text has been found in more than one city, from Egypt to Macedonia. The hymn travelled and was used wherever there was a sanctuary of Asclepius.

The construction shows it. Ἰὲ Παιάν stands between the clauses, breaking them up: this is not ornament but the chorus's response, written into the recorded text so that everyone knew where to come in. What we have is a score, not a poem.

The whole medical family is enumerated: Apollo, Coronis, Asclepius, Machaon and Podaleirios, Iaso, Aigle, Panakeia, the children of Epione, and Hygieia. In the physicians' oath four are named — Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia, Panakeia (hippocrates-oath-001) — and they are a selection from this same household.

The Greek text exists but did not reach this card. The situation is the same as with the Epidaurus hymn (epidaurus-paean-asclepius-001): Powell's edition and IG are restricted, and the free scans of Kaibel, Preger, the Anthologia Lyrica and Farnell were checked and do not contain it. In Campbell it is fragment 939.

Fons · Source

AuthorAnonymous (inscription from Erythrai)

WorkGreek Lyric (Campbell, vol. V)

Sectionfr. 939

PeriodGreek (BC, exact date uncertain)

Occasioncivic paean to Asclepius preserved in an inscription at Erythrai — invocation of the healer-god and his family for the city's wellbeing

Classificatio · Taxonomy

CultureGreek

Formhymn

DeitiesAsclepius, Apollo, Hygieia, Iaso, Aegle, Panacea, Epione, Machaon, Podaleirius

FunctionsInvocation · Petition · Praise

SphereHealing · Civic