Rome

adopted the worship of A scul api us about 300 Bc. The healing art (says Sir G. Cox) was then better understood than in the middle ages of Christian ignorance in Europe. Men believed the Asklépiadai to be in earnest when— in order to hide secrets of their art —they said that their succe was due to visions, charms, and oracles. But their art was genuine if un-scientific, and was ancient in Egypt. Pergamos worshiped this healer from 400 B.c. down to 270 a.c., as shown by coins; and his statue by Phuromakhos dated from 240 p.c. In Rome he was a ociated with Apollo Teleophoros, with Hygeia (gode of health), and with Jove the Revivifier (Cox, Ar. Mythol., ii, p. 290). His votaries—modest women as well as men—must approach him naked, and his salutation was to ki the hand with fingers drawn into a loop (see Hand). Asma. Asman.