In
Greek mythology,
Epione was the goddess of soothing of pain; in fact, her name actually means soothing. She was the wife of
Asclepius and mother of
Panacea, the goddess of medicines, and
Hygieia, the goddess of health. She was probably also considered the mother of the famous physicians
Machaon and
Podalirius, who are mentioned in the
Iliad of
Homer.