The Sons of Apollo and the Iatromantis

Mens Sana In Computatore Sano

The Sons of Apollo and the Iatromantis

8 August 2006 657 views 5 Comments

We have established that the cult of Apollo, found at Cumae – where, incidentally, the oracle of the Dead is located as well as the Sibyl – was based on healing and prophecy; two features attributed to the god Apollo. A list of his sons only attests to this.

Asklepios/Asclepius is a prime example. Some myths say he was a man that became a god, but he was noted for being a ’son of Apollo’ and was associated, like his ‘father’, iconographically with the serpent. The hissing of a serpent is what is important to note – it is the hissing sound of silence and stillness (hesychia) that is obtained through the focus on the sound of silence that opens the door to another state. Asklepios had a cult of healing evolve around him and his teachings, which would be found typically in a sanctuary or Asklepion whereby the participants would come to lie down and incubate with the god and the divine in order to learn (prophecy) what to do to alleviate their situations.

Aristaios is another son of Apollo who was especially blessed with hunting and taming of wild animals, for example – much like his father. But he was also a priest of Apollo, like Asklepios, and was seen as a seer and a healer. There is the incident, found in Argonautika (2.500-527) that discusses how he was brought to Keos to heal the inhabitants of the Dog-Star Sirius, which was scorching the earth. He also recieved his education, as an infant, under the wise centaur Chiron in a cave.

And to go into a cave, and enter a state of altered reality to communicate with Apollo is the typical motif we see regarding the iatromantis figure that is identified with Parmenides, in southern Italy, and with even Epimenides on Crete (who incubated in the cave of Zeus on Mount Ida).

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5 Comments »

Algis Kemezys said:

Speaking about the Caves on Crete not only are there many but also lots of Mimetoliths. While investigating Crete prior to my understanding of the incubation process one can become possessed by the stone Mimetoliths. Now I know what I was sensing….They are calling out and now I must go back and incubate.

see this small film of mine on the mimetoliths of Crete.
http://exposure.cbc.ca/video/mimetoliths-movie-trailer

# 5 August 2007 at 11:21 am

John Ricard said:

For some reason, this comment has escaped my attention. Thanks Algis Kemezys for your contribution. I am interested in seeing your film but the link isn’t active anymore.

# 22 November 2008 at 3:09 pm

Algis Kemezys said:

Dear J,

Thanks for your interest. The link to see a short trailer is here
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2681518/

best 2009
ak

# 5 January 2009 at 9:48 pm

John Ricard (author) said:

I’d like to talk to you about this film and what you found there on Crete. I have longed to see Mount Ida and the cave where baby Zeus was hidden. Maybe you know something about this.

# 6 January 2009 at 8:04 pm

Algis Kemezys said:

Hi JR,

Yes the rock seems alive on crete and the muse seems to help those who follow mysterious quests. The film Mimetoliths is avaible at amazon. I am off to Turkey to explore some of those ancient apollo temples.

bestregards
lets do keep in touch.
best

Algis

# 16 September 2009 at 9:33 pm