The plague of Athens and the cult of Asklepios as collective behavior and a social movement

This paper will apply theories of social movements to explain the rise of the cult of Asklepios in Athens.  The cult helped reestablish norms and supportive institutions in the wake of the plague.  Social movements often arise in times of sudden changes and social unrest, becoming a source of spiritual and political empowerment.  Two types of social movements are redemptive and reformative.  The cult of Asklepios rose to prominence after the plague as a social movement was both redemptive and reformative.  Drawing on cultural and religious institutions the cult impacted healing practices and beliefs to increase social cohesion and was part of a political strategy to build an alliance with another city-state.  In addition the movement may have supported the growth of rational Hippocratic medicine which was in its infancy.