Themis, a study of the social origins of Greek ... - Warburg Institute

382 From Daimon to Olympian [ch.
in the relief 1
in Fig. 105 the simple truth is patent: the god in
Fig. 10.5.
human form leans on his staff awaiting his worshippers, the holy
snake behind him is his equal in stature and in majesty. It was
in the precinct of Asklepios at Epidauros that the relief in Fig. 75
was found, dedicated to the Agathos Theos 2 with his cornucopia
and sacred snake.
But if the snake-aspect of Asklepios is evident and, I believe,
now accepted, there are two other elements in his cult that show
him to be a fertility-daimon and that have hitherto not I think
been rightly understood, the figure of Telesphoros and the snake-
twined omphalos.
On many coins of Asia Minor of Roman date, and especially
on those of Pergamos there appears in connection with Asklepios
1 Athens, Central Museum Cat. 1407. In previously publishing this relief
(Prolegomena, p. 312) I did not understand the relation of the snake to the Agathos
Daimon.
2 Supra, p. 285.