Terracotta Sculpture Depicting the Goddess Hygieia, 19th Century

It could be the emblem of our contemporary society! Asclepius, god of medicine, and Epione, goddess of health, can be proud of their daughter, who is finally making a name for herself in 19th-century society. In line with the prevailing hygienic trend, the State was intent on cleaning up the cities and countryside, and promoting hygiene and cleanliness as the cardinal virtues of modernity! Hygie embodies this new state of mind superbly. Here, she is crowned with a wreath of ivy and holds a cup (the patera, one of the symbols of pharmacy) in her right hand and a bouquet of sage leaves in her left, used for fumigations.

Although ancient testimonies mention the existence of sculptures featuring Hygie, only one has survived. So we can assume a certain freedom in the representation of the goddess in the 19th century. Our sculpture consists of two elements, both in very good condition.