L’importance des offrandes et sacrifices en période d’épidémies dans les cultes de guérison en l’honneur d’Asclépios en Grèce ancienne

Abstract

This paper deals in part with the origin of medical cults in ancient Greece. The current tendency is to recall that the Greeks generally link the introduction of new cults with the advent of happy or unfortunate events: hence the installation of healing cults, especially in Asclepius the god par excellence of medicine, in times of epidemic. The consecrations of a whole city plagued by the plague, the testimonies of godliness and hope, the necessity of collective and individual sacrifices and prayers, to guarantee the covenant between the suppliant and his god and to guarantee the protection of the gods in all circumstances. Thus in this article we have taken an interest in worship at Asclepius, especially concerning its genesis and hegemony in certain localities, but also the importance given to ritual sacrifices in times of crisis, especially in the Greek world