This set of Asklepios pocket prayer beads consists of twelve beads, to represent the Greek dodecatheon of twelve gods; there are many more than twelve Greek gods, but most cities had their own group of twelve. Joining the string is a pendant, a symbol representing the god: The snake was associated with healing in ancient Greece; Asklepios was said to have learned healing secrets from the snake, and snakes were an element of some Asklepian healing rituals. In addition, the god's symbol--the Rod of Asklepios--is a staff with a single snake wound around it, and it remains a symbol for many medical professionals. (Modern medicine also often uses the caduceus--the staff of Mercury wound with two snakes--as a symbol, due to a modern confusion between the two items.)
It is made with 10mm deep dusty blue fire-polished Czech glass beads, separated by silver-toned metal spacer beads, and glass seed beads to provide a comfortable transition from one bead to the next and to make the piece lightweight, supple, and easy to handle. The string itself is approximately 10.5" (26.7cm) in circumference and is designed to be used in prayer and meditation, to decorate an altar or shrine, and/or to adorn a statue. The small size makes it easy to keep on hand in a drawer, a purse, or a pocket.
The beads come with a prayer to Asklepios, written specifically to be used with this prayer bead design, and with a cotton muslin bag for storage.
You can, of course, use the beads with any prayers, or for any god or gods, that you choose or that resonate with you.
