This is one of many testimonial inscriptions along the path to a temple of Asklepios, god of healing, in Greece. Afflicted people came and slept in the temple, and if they were lucky got either a prescription or a direct cure from the god in a dream. Many of these inscriptions do name names, adding to their credibility. For clarity I've shifted the text to first person and added quote marks.

THREE-YEAR PREGNANCY

I, Ithmonike of Pellene, came to the sanctuary for offspring. After going to sleep here I dreamt I saw Asklepios. I asked the god "May I conceive a daughter." Asklepios said "You will become pregnant; and if you ask for anything else I'll bring that about too." But I said "I don't need anything more."

Soon after leaving the temple I realized I was indeed pregnant.

And I stayed pregnant... for three years!

At last I returned to pray to the god about this. I went to sleep here and dreamt the god asked me "Haven't you gotten all you asked for? You're pregnant now. You didn't say a word about birth, even though I asked if you wanted a little something more... Well, since you've now come all the way back to me as a suppliant, I'll handle this for you too."

I woke and quickly left the adytum [part of temple]; I was scarcely outside the sanctuary when I gave birth to my daughter.

NOTES

God as a trickster! Readers familiar with Raven and Coyote stories will recognize the special flavor of this multileveled fable. What sly lessons the God of Doctors slips into his practical joke!

• When the god (or your doctor) speaks, listen, for in healing, details matter.
• Don't let short-term goals blind you to your real needs and desires. And...
• False humility ("Oh, I don't need anything more") gets you nowhere--or rather, halfway there for three years!

SOURCE: The Interpretation of Dreams and Portents in Antiquity by Naphtali Lewis. He's not an objective scholar: opens with a rant about 'superstitions' like ESP, yoga, meditation and... health food? Yep, health food! But most of the book's a straightforward compendium of ancient dreams, some well worth reading--while you chomp that Lewis-approved Frankenburger.

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