Asclepius

Asclepius is the Greek god of medicine. His Roman counterpart is Aesculapius.

History
Asclepius is the son of Apollo and Princess Coronis of the Lapiths. Coronis fell in love with a mortal man while she was pregnant with Asclepius. When Apollo discovered this, he killed the lovers in a rage, but saved his child out of remorse. The newborn was then taken to be raised by Chiron who taught the demigod in medicine and would drive him to become the greatest of healers.

Asclepius became a favorite of Athena who gave him a vial of Gorgon Blood. This allowed him to cure any illness, heal any injury, and even bring back the dead. Furious, Hades forced Zeus to strike Asclepius dead with his thunderbolt for his transgression against the natural laws. Angered by the death of his son, Apollo killed one of the Cyclopes in retaliation. To prevent a feud, Asclepius was resurrected and made into a god.

His cult became extremely popular in classic times, spreading outwards from his chief shrines located in the Argive town Epidauros, which purported to offer supplicants cures to their physical ills and tried to understand mental ills. Some say it was the best "hospital" in Mediterranean. The Asklepiads, an ancient guild of Doctors, were also devotees of the god.

The Son of Neptune
Though against his will, Vitellius explains to Frank Zhang how he was claimed by Asclepius. While he was cleaning his clothes, a white chicken stole his underwear. Recognizing the animal as the symbol of his divine ancestor, Vitellius became the physician of his legion. He also casually said that a friend of his had an even more embarrassing claiming involving a bug, but a disgusted Frank refused to listen.

The Blood of Olympus
Asclepius is first mentioned by Apollo on Delos, as the only person to have ever successfully cured death. Apollo gives Leo, Frank and Hazel his location in Epidaurus.

Piper, Leo and Jason later meet Asclepius in the Asclepion. He quickly diagnoses Jason with myopia (shortsightedness) and gives him a pair of glasses. Later, he uses the Pylosian mint, the "cursed" daisy and the makhai to formulate the physician's cure and gives the trio instructions on its use.

Aesculapius
Asclepius can change his appearance into his Roman aspect of Aesculapius; becoming more disciplined, militaristic, and warlike.

Consorts

 * Aristodama
 * Epione

Immortal Children

 * Aratus
 * Aceso
 * Hygieia
 * Iaso
 * Machaon
 * Meditrina
 * Panacea
 * Podaleirios
 * Telesphoros

Demigod Children

 * Vitellius (Lar)

The Rod of Asclepius
The Rod of Asclepius is often confused with Hermes' Caduceus, however the Caduceus has two snakes (George and Martha), and the Rod of Asclepius has one. The caduceus is sometimes used by medical companies.

Trivia

 * The name of his daughters each rather transparently reflects a certain subset of the overall theme of "good health".
 * His rod is sometimes mistaken with the Caduceus. however, the Rod of Asclepius has only one snake, while Hermes' Caduceus has two snakes.
 * He is considered to be the favorite son of Apollo.
 * As revealed in Percy Jacksons Greek Gods, Asclepius was even more skilled in medicine than his father Apollo, most likelly because he devoted all of his time to it.
 * He was the healer on the Argo