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Earth, Dream, and Healing: The Integration of Materia and Psyche in the Ancient World

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Abstract

Influenced by the methods and practices of Hippocrates, the Asclepius cult used herbal formulae and medicinal applications intricately connected with Asclepius cult rituals and worship. An understanding of the types of herb and medical applications surrounding their use by the cult aids understanding of the inner world and symbolism of ancient dreams.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Theology, Fordham University, 113 West 60th Street, Room 924, New York, NY, 10023-7484, USA

    Jeffrey B. Pettis

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  1. Jeffrey B. Pettis
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Correspondence to Jeffrey B. Pettis.

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Jeffrey B. Pettis teaches in the field of New Testament Studies at Fordham University, New York City. His focus is the interpretation and use of ancient dreams in early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world. He has lived and traveled in Greece, Egypt and Turkey, studying the design and culture of ancient temples and the sanctuaries of Asclepius, the deity of the ancient dream cult. He received his Ph.D. from Union Seminary in 2004.

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Pettis, J.B. Earth, Dream, and Healing: The Integration of Materia and Psyche in the Ancient World. J Relig Health 45, 113–129 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-005-9010-9

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