By the Gods!

Ophiucus/Asclepius

Many typical horoscope fans were shocked to hear the addition of a 13th sign to the Zodiac. The lucky constellation to be put in the infamous spotlight was Ophiucus the serpent bearer, formerly known as Serpentarius. But like most constellations, there is an origin to why they’re placed in the heavens. So who was Ophiucus? And for the sideline, the 13th sign only applies to those who follow the sidereal Zodiac - most Americans and the rest of western civilization follow the WESTERN Zodiac - so relax you’re still the sign you were born under.

Anyways back to the story. Ophiucus is actually Asklepios (Asclepius, Aesculapius in Latin ), the Greek God of Medicine. Not many know of Asclepius, however his legacy still impacts the present. He was the son of Olympian Apollo and the Trikkaian Princess Coronis. Unfortunately for the mother, she was caught being unfaithful to her godly spouse and was punished by the god by laying her out on a funeral pyre, however Hermes saved the infant Asclepius. In lighter versions, she died in childbirth. As a boy, Asclepius––like many would-be heroes and kings––was raised and educated by Chiron, the centaur and was taught the art of healing and medicine. In time he surpassed his father in healing and soon he was deified all over ancient Greece. His priests became the first doctors, but Asclepius himself obtained the cures from listening to the dreams of his patients.

His trademark logo, A staff entwined by a serpent came from a legend in which he was commanded to revive a patient. Deep in meditation a snake crept up on his staff and Asclepius struck the serpent again and again as it tried to flee. Another snake came out of the same hole the first one came out of and placed an herb on its head. Both snakes fled - seeing what happened tried the same herb on its patient, and what a miracle the patient was revived. Since then, the snake was under the guardianship of Asclepius.

Asclepius did many wonders healing the sick and reviving the dead. Hades complained to Zeus he was being cheated dead souls and the Fates got the thread of life all tangled up, unable to sever it. Apollo reasoned that Asclepius was doing it for the benevolent reasons. However, Zeus grew furious when he heard that Asclepius offered to resurrect the dead in exchange for gold. He threw a thunderbolt at Asclepius. In honor of the good deeds he performed he was placed in the heavens as the constellation Ophiucus, along with his serpent.