VEDA WELLNESS

ANCIENT THEATRE OF ASKLEPIEION

Epidaurus, Greece

Offered exclusively at our Greece Retreat

The Asklepieion of Epidaurus was the greatest healing centre of the ancient world.

Worship in the sanctuary began in the mid 6th century B.C., when the mountainous sanctuary of Apollo Maleatas was no longer sufficient for public worship in the city-state of Epidaurus. The prestige and fame Asclepius had gained for being the most significant healer-god brought enormous wealth to the sanctuary.

Thus, in the 4th and 3rd century B.C., a big construction project to accommodate the cult in monumental buildings (temple and altar of Asclepius, Dome, Abaton and others) became possible, while more buildings were later constructed for secular activities mainly (theatre, ritual restaurant, Baths, Palaestra, etc). The Asklepieion existed till the end of antiquity, and knew a second golden era in the 2nd century A.D.