Astragalous

899a7d47-63e7-4275-a4ab-c91c88d9e552-72_fig.1_epidaurus-avaton
Abaton of the sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus

Εὐφάνης Ἐπιδαύριος παῖς. οὗτος λιθιῶν ἐνεκάθευδε· ἔδοξε δὴ αὐτῷ ὁ θεὸς ἐπιστὰς εἰπεῖν· “τί μοι δωσεῖς, αἴ τύ κα ὑγιῆ ποιήσω;” αὐτὸς δὲ φάμεν “δέκ’ ἀστραγάλους”. τὸν δὲ θεὸν γελάσαντα φάμεν νιν παυσεῖν. ἁμέρας δὲ γενομένας ὑγιὴς ἐξῆλθε.
(Inscriptiones Graecae IV².1.121.VIII)

Euphanes, a boy of Epidauros. Suffering from stone, he slept (in the abaton). It seemed to him the god came to him and said, “What will you give me if I should make you well?” The boy replied, “Ten knucklebones.” The god laughed and said that he would make it stop. When day came, he left well. (tr. Lynn R. LiDonnici, modified by Paraskevi Martzavou)

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