Paean (god)

This article is about the god. For other uses, see Paean (disambiguation).

In Greek mythology, Paean (Paeëon or Paeon) was the Greek doctor of the gods.^[1]

Homer and Hesiod

In the Iliad, book 5, the Olympian god of war Ares is wounded by mortal hero Diomedes. Ares is to Olympus in a hurry, where Paeon applies medicine that gave an instant relief.^[2] Hades too was helped by Paeon when he was shot with an arrow by Heracles.^[3]

Hesiod says Paeon is an individual god and not a group of people.^[4]

In time, Paeon (more usually spelled Paean) became a name used for Apollo. This is because Apollo was able to bring disease. Later, Paeon became a name used for Asclepius, the healer-god.^[5]