Temple of Aesculapius
Picture form Lozzi (2000)
Quotes and paraphrasing taken from Ovid Metamorphosis. XV. 15. 626-71
When Rome was struck by a deadly pestilence an embassy went to Delphi to ask Apollo's oracle what to do. He told them they needed Aesculapius from Epidamnus. The set sail to ask the Grecian elders for there god. They were told that they could ask Aesculapius, when they did he replied:
"Fear not! I shall come and leave my shrine. only look upon this serpent which twines about my staff and fix it on your sight that you may know it on your sight that you may know it"
Aesculapius wanted to go to Rome. The Romans asked the god where he wanted to abide. He came up the Tiber as a serpent and looked about and chose to live on the Tiber island.
"the river, flowing around, seperates at this point into two parts, forming the place called the Island on each side it streches out two equal arms with land between"