This half-size cult statue of Asklepios (the Este type) represents the Greek god of medicine and patron of physicians, who was prayed to for every kind of ailments. His appeal continued into early Christian times. He stands with weight on his right leg, leaning on his staff, with a serpent wound around it--the serpent sacred to Asklepios and his staff, the caduceus, a symbol adopted today to signify the medical profession. During the Hellenistic period there is increased realism in sculpture: his right hand resting on his weight-bearing hip, which is raised in an exaggerated posture over the many deep folds of his draped himation. The contrasting directions (contrapposto pose) highlighting the planes of the body and the strong folds of the drapery produce an elegant spiral twist with a sense of movement. The missing head would have been bearded and had a full mane of hair.