Roman Imperial
Caracalla (188-217), Denarius 215, Rome mint
Obverse: laureate head right
ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM
Reverse: Aesclepius standing front, holding serpent-entwined wand, globe on ground to right, small figure of Telesphorus left
P M TR P XVIII COS IIII P P
Weight 3,13 g.
From 214, Caracalla's health vows were made. In the Forum, near the temple of the nymph of Juturna, there was a medical room in which there was a statue dedicated to the god of medicine, Aesculapius. In this denar, Aesculapius is accompanied by Telesphorus, a healing deity, depicted in the form of a small iconic statue. Another great cult center of Asclepius or Aesculapius was on the island of Sporades in Kos, where Hippocrates, the patron saint of doctors, was born. It is possible that Caracalla, on his way to Asia Minor and Syria, stopped on the island to make an offering to Aesculapius in the hope of recovery.
