In essence, a visit to the Asclepieion of Epidaurus, the most important of the 300 or so Asclepieia discovered around the Mediterranean, is an immersion in a sacred magical universe where the ancient Greeks’ holistic approach to health found its finest expression. Dedicated to Asclepius, the god of medicine, it attracted people from all over the ancient world seeking divine guidance to treat their health problems.
The hallmark of Asclepian medicine was its comprehensive approach to patient care. Treatment focused largely on promoting a healthy lifestyle, with particular emphasis on the spiritual needs of the individual. Asclepius was said to appear to patients during the curative dream ritual, through which they were told what they needed to do to cure their ailment; at the very least, if not visited directly by the deity in their sleep, they would report their dream to a priest who would interpret it and prescribe a cure, often a visit to the baths or a gymnasium.
The highlight of Epidaurus was its magnificent theatre, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Designed by the architect Polykleitos the Younger, it is renowned for its immaculate symmetry and appeal, while its incredible acoustics have been the subject of much research – the secret seems to lie in the design of the monument. The theatre was an integral part of the healing sanctuary, as theatrical performances were thought to be beneficial to all the senses, thus promoting catharsis or purification. Patients would have been ‘prescribed’ to attend certain performances depending on their condition, and the theatre’s incredible acoustics would have been used for sound healing.
Visitors can experience the profound acoustics for themselves – stand in the middle of the orchestra and sing or recite, or test the acoustics by gradually increasing your vocal volume until you can be heard by your partner in the upper tiers! During the Athens-Epidaurus Festival (one of the oldest performing arts festivals in Europe, held from June to October) you can even enjoy the unique experience of watching plays and concerts under the starry sky, in the same place and exactly as people did 2,500 years ago – without any sound equipment!
You can take a look at the Asclepieion of Epidaurus here:
Sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus, Greece – World Heritage Journeys. (2019, September 19). [Video]. YouTube.
Let us introduce you to Blue Mosaic’s cultural options, where our associate licensed local historian will guide you through the historical evolution of Western medicine from its primitive, magical origins to scientific medicine.
