Asclepius of Ancient Epidaurus was a healing center of antiquity with temples, accommodation, sports buildings, library, theater. Get to know them!

1. Asclepius
Asklepiia
Αsclepiion
of Epidaurus

2. Aesculapius
…was a semigod
Apollo was his father
but his mother was a
mortal, named Koronis.
The centaur Chiron
raised Asclepius and
taught him medicine
Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

3. Ancient medicine tools
Αrchaeological Μuseum of Epidaurus
He healed people using
“miracles”, drugs or surgical
procedures.
Asclepius provoked the gods
because he healed all the sick
So, after his death caused by gods
and Apollo's protests about it,
Zeus allowed ...
Asclepius to continue from the
Underworld the healing of
people.
So, Asclepius became
a chthonian healer god.
Sacred animals of Asclepius were:
the snake, the goat, the dog and
the rooster
Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

4. In honor of Asklepios, the sanctuaries, the
Asklepiia, were founded all over Greece.
Archaeologists have brought to light 350 Asklepiia
throughout the Mediterranean Sea.
Asklepiia were built in an amazing sunny location,
with a nice view, fresh air, lush vegetation and
hot springs. This very nice natural environment
helped the sick to get well quickly.
Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

5. Tholos/Dome The temple
Asclepius was worshipped
in the Dome as a hero and in the Temple as a god.
Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

6. Temple of Asclepius (390 BC)

7. Temple of Asclepius (390 BC)
Theodotos was the architect of the doric
temple. The statue of Asclepius, inside the
temple, was made by Thrasymides from
Paros. The statue was oversized and made of
ivory and gold.
In the temple, the believers worshiped
Asklepius as a god and offered goods
Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

8. The Dome (Tholos) of Polykleitos
with the corinthian columns
Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

9. The Dome (Tholos) of Polykleitos
Dome was a Polykleitos project and needed 40 years to be built (360-
320 B.C), because of frequent wars. Its internal corinthian columns are
considered as a model of this rhythm. Pausias had painted the
sanctuary.
Dome (Tholos) was the chthonian home of Askelapius. The ceremonies
taking place, were dedicated to the Hero Asklepius.
Under the floor of the circular Dome was an underground space,
consisting of concentric corridors. The corridors were connected to
each other by small doors. The 'descent' into the basement was
accomplished through the center, after they lifted a circular slab.
Other small doors and obstacles that had been deliberately placed
inside the underground corridors forced the believers to follow a
labyrinthine course, reminiscent of the movement of the serpent, the
symbol of Asclepius. Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

10. Avato or cemetery (375 BC… 300 BC)
Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

11. What was the cemetery?
The mortuary was an Ionic arcade 70 m long. Its right
side was built in 375 BC. and the left in 300 BC. It
was a building where patients were put to sleep.
That is, the patient, after washing in the sacred spring
and making a night sacrifice, entered the
bedchamber and slept on the ground, on the skin
of the animal he had sacrificed. There, Asclepius
visited him in his dream and healed him.
With slumber (sleep), which is like death, the
diseased body dies, and with awakening, the body
is reborn and drives away the disease.
Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

12. Sacred well: from this point began the cult of Asclepius. Water was very
important for the purification of believers. The believers before falling asleep
were washed, to be clean to receive the healing from the god.
Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

13. Getting relieved with the healing process
Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

14. Τhe view through Avato
High barriers obstructed the view to the interior of the
Avato so that he, who was not initiated into the mystery,
could not watch what was happening inside the building.
Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

15. Offers of patients
at Asklepiion
for their healing.
Many of them are
located in the
Archaeological
Museum of
Epidaurus
Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

16. square
avato
temple
tholos
stadium
Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

17. Stadium
Argyri Mpiliouri,2023

18. Gymnasium
Odeio
(Romans Years)

19. theatre

20. Ancient Epidaurus,
Argyri Mpiliouri, 2023