Hygieia was the Greek goddess of health. She not only encouraged a return to good health after illness, but also protected a person’s health so that they never fell ill to begin with.
The origins and worship of Hygieia shed light on what, exactly, health meant to the people of the ancient world. When medical knowledge was scarce, Hygieia protected health in all its forms.
Hygieia and Health
The goddess Hygieia was the deity of health. Her family was broadly responsible for wellness.Hygieia was one of the daughters of Asclepius, the patron god of doctors. His father was Apollo, who was regarded as a healer and protector.
Hygieia, whose name meant “health” in Ancient Greek, had four sisters according to most traditions. Aglaea personified the splendor of a healthy body, Panacea represented a universal medicine, Aceso was the goddess of the healing process, and Iaso oversaw the process of recovery and recuperation.
Of the five daughters of Asclepius, Hygieia was the most prominent.She was the goddess of continual good health.