Modern medicine has its origin in the ancient world. The oldest civilizations used magic and herbs to cure their sick people, but they also used religion to free them from harm and to protect their health. The medical care of today has its roots in ancient Greece. With the introduction of Asklepios and Hygieia in Athens, there sprouted a very important healing cult that existed from about 500 BCE until 500 CE. Hygieia plays a very unusual role in Greek religion because of her unclear identity. She was connected with Asklepios in the 5th century BCE, and together they became the most famous healing couple within the Greek and Roman world. One of the main problems is the identity of Hygieia. She has been given several names, which cross each other all the time through modern literature from the late 19th century CE. Terms like goddess, personification, abstraction and extension of Asklepios are but a few of the labels given to her. It is an interesting question why modern scientists and historians alike use different names for Hygieia, when ancient sources literally state that is she is a goddess. An example is the first Oath of Hippokrates, which states: I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asklepios, Hygieia, and Panakeia, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement. (Oath of Hippokrates)
This is a companion discussion topic for the original content at https://www.worldhistory.org/article/253/hygieia-the-goddess-of-health/.