Aesculapius, es-ku-la'pi-us, in classic mythology, the god of medicine. He was the son of Apollo. He had wondrous skill in the healing art. On complaint of Pluto that mortals were prevented by him from dying, and that Hades was becoming depopulated, Zeus slew Aesculapius with a thunderbolt, but at Apollo's request placed him among the stars. In art he is represented usually as an aged, bearded man carrying a staff, around which a serpent, an emblem of wisdom, wraps its coils. His temples were placed usually without the city walls in some healthful spot, possibly near a fountain. The sick were wont to sacrifice a cock or goat to Aesculapius. In case of recovery a votive tablet recording the cure was hung up in the temple. Physicians are sometimes called "disciples of Aesculapius." In Homer Aesculapius is not spoken of as a god, but simply as "the blameless physician."