For Asclepius, many animals were sacred, and helped his priests and priestesses to heal the sick.
The serpent was the most important since small doses of its venom could be used as a drug.
Then there were dogs and geese, because their saliva helped to heal wounds. Finally, the rooster: the animal’s announcement of a new day was seen as a sign of Asclepius returning life to the sick and renewing their days.
