Hygeia is the goddess of health. She was widely appealed to and honored in ancient times. She is usually shown with a snake coiled around her arm about to eat or drink from a shallow medicine bowl or patera. The image shows harmony with nature. It is speculated that the snake represents the patient who is offered the benefit of health but must make the effort and get it themselves.Snakes are repeatedly used as symbols of healing and wisdom in Greek, Roman and other religious traditions. They live in holes in the ground and so are thought to have a connection to the wisdom of the ancestors.
Snakes are also the symbol for kundalini, the evolutionary healing feminine energy of the Earth. The snake is grounded and represents our ancient reptilian ancestors and the self healing body wisdom of the autonomic nervous system.
She has an asteroid named for her that is used in astrology, #10
“Hygieia – In Greek and Roman mythology, Hygieia (also Hygiea or Hygeia, Greek Ὑγιεία or Ὑγεία, Latin Hygēa or Hygīa), was a daughter of the god of medicine, Asclepius. She was the goddess/personification of health (Greek: ὑγίεια – hugieia[1]), cleanliness and sanitation. She also played an important part in her father’s cult. While her father was more directly associated with healing, she was associated with the prevention of sickness and the continuation of good health. Her name is the source of the word “hygiene”.”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygeia
Here is some information on her from Theoi.com ;http://www.theoi.com/Ouranios/AsklepiasHygeia.html
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