The Goddess: In Greek mythology, Hygieia was the daughter of Asclepius, the god of medicine. While her father represented the act of healing (curing the sick), Hygieia represented the prevention of disease and the maintenance of good health through cleanliness and lifestyle.
The inscription on the wooden base, ΥΓΕΙΑ (Ygeia), is the Greek word for "Health." This is the root of our modern English word hygiene.
