| Type: | Greek |
| Panacea | |
| Abode: | Mount Olympus |
| Parents: | Asclepius and Epione |
| Siblings: | Aceso, Aegle, Aratus, Hygieia, Iaso, Machaon, Podalirius, Telesphoros |
In Greek mythology and religion, Panacea (Greek Πανάκεια, Panakeia), a goddess of universal remedy, was the daughter of Asclepius and Epione.
Panacea and her four sisters each performed a facet of Apollo's art:[1]
Panacea also had four brothers:
However, portrayals of the family were not always consistent; Panacea and her sisters each at times appear as Asclepius' wife instead.[2]
Panacea may have been an independent goddess before being absorbed into the Asclepius myth.[1]
Panacea traditionally had a poultice or potion with which she healed the sick. This brought about the concept of the panacea in medicine, a substance with the alleged property of curing all diseases. The term "panacea" has also come into figurative use as meaning "something used to solve all problems".
The opening of the Hippocratic Oath mentions Panacea:[3]
A river in Thrace/Moesia took its name from the goddess, and is still known in modern Bulgaria as the river Zlatna Panega ("Golden Panega", from Greek panakeia).