16. A figure of Greek mythology, the healing miracles of Asclepius form the basis for the supposed “Miracles of Jesus” found in the New Testament of the Bible
A key characterization of the Christian narrative, the miracles of Jesus, were alleged supernatural actions that proved not only his divinity, but also provided examples of the compassion and forgiveness that formed the core of his ministry’s teachings. The miracles span curing blindness, leprosy, and paralysis, three of the canonical gospels also state that, on at least one occasion, Jesus was responsible for resurrecting the deceased. Viewed from a cultural perspective, miracles were widely believed phenomena two thousand years ago, appearing persistently in both Hellenistic and Jewish mythologies against which the gospels were written.
Possessing significant similarities to the healing miracles supposedly performed by Jesus, the Greek hero Asclepius was believed to have been a legendary healer who ascended to divinity through his good deeds. Capable of curing any ailment, according to Greek mythology, Asclepius was even capable of restoring life to the dead. This act provoked Zeus to eventually martyr Asclepius to prevent mankind from escaping death forever and, thus, deny Hades of their spirits. Knowledge of Asclepius was immensely widespread in the ancient world, with temples dedicated to him spanning the Mediterranean by the 5th century BCE, offering ample opportunity for the younger Christian narrative to become infused with his older legend.