222 A NATURAL HISTORY 



As to the Infcriptions in honour of Mfculapiusy Gruterui 

 has thefe following, viz. 



Mfculapio, Hygeee, 6f ceteris Diis & Deabus. 

 Deo Mfculapio^ & Hygece, conjern^atoribus. 

 Deo MfculapiOf ^ Decs Hygece. 



N.B. The Title of Confervator, or Saviour, was the ordi- 

 nary Elogium of Mfculapius. 



In the Ifle of Co, there was a Coin whereon Mfculapius was 

 called the Saviour ; and fo on a Coin of Aficyra. Games are alio 

 mentioned, inftituted in honour of him as Saviour. The Symbol 

 of Mfculapius was a Serpent, or Dragon, about a little Rod, as 

 may be feen in feveral Medals, and by the Teflimony of the 

 Poet *. Wherever he was worfhip'd in Statues of a human Figure, 

 a Staff was put into his Left-hand, with a Serpent about it. 



This feems to be the reafon why Antiquity reprefents the firfl 

 Mafters of Phyfick (as Hermes, JEjculapius, Hippocrates, in their 

 Statues and Medals) with a Viper added to their Figure; and alfo 

 why they worfhip'd thofe Phyjicians under the Form of Serpents ■\. 



The Serpent of Mfculapius, the reputed God of Phyfick, had 

 its Rife from the miraculous Cures done by Mofes^ Serpent in the 

 Camp of Ifrael. Serpents of bright and golden Colour were all 

 counted facred to Mfculapius, and were cicur'd, or made tame by 

 human Arts. A Dragon was ufually annex'd to his Image, and 

 to that ©f Health, nothing being thought available without the 

 Prefence of a Serpent. 



At Pella in Macedonia, the Royal Seat, and Alexander'% Birth- 

 place, were Dragons of a large Bulk, but of a gentle Nature,- 

 maintained at the Expence of the Government, as Creatures bear- 

 ing z facred CharaSier, and worthy of the publick Regard. Be- 

 caufe many tame Serpents were kept in that Place, the fabulous 

 Poets faid, Alexander was born of a Serpent-. 



The People of Argos in Greece, had Serpents in fuch great 

 Veneration, that no-body was fuffer'd to kill them with impunity J. 



the 



* QtvU. Met am. lib. 5. Qaalis in jede . . . EiTe folet, baculumque tenens agrefle 

 fjniftra. - 



-f- Salomows OUarii — Originss c^ Aiitig^uitates Med\c<e. Printed at HaU in Saxoiiy. 

 X Mitan. lib. xii. cap. 34. 



