Hygieia

"Daughter of the Healing God, Aeclepiadae; fair and just Hygiea, you who prevents sickness, who grants us good health. You hold back the snakes that plague us. Their poison cannot taint us. Their fangs cannot bite us. All venom turns to sweet honey in sight of you. We honor you divine one."

―Inscription on Hygieia's statue.

Statue of Hygieia within a shrine

Hygieia was a daughter of Asklepios and the goddess of health, cleanliness and hygiene in Greek and Roman mythology.

History

5th century BCE

During the 5th century BCE statues of Hygieia, as well as other gods, littered the landscape of ancient Greece.

1st century BCE

In the 1st century BCE, a shrine containing her statue was erected in the Green Mountains region of Libya. Unfortunately, the place was plagued by snakes.

Behind the scenes

Aesclepiadae is a term used to refer to a group of people following Asclepius; in mythology, 'Aesclepiadae' includes all the sons and daughters of Asclepius. Among humans, the term was used of physicians, banding them together as a "clan of Aesclepiadae".

The statue used in-game for Hygieia is based on Bertel Thorvaldsen's sculpture of the Greek goddess Hebe. The same statue was used for Demeter in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey.

Gallery

• 
  A relief of Hygieia with her father, Asklepios, and snakes
• 
  A relief featuring Asklepios and Hygieia receiving people

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Origins (statue only)
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (statue only)