The Asklepieion Sanctuary

Base of state religion of the Epidaurus city-state

The historical importance of the city-state of Epidaurus lies primarily in the fact that it handled the affairs of the famous Sanctuary of Asklepios. As the archaelogical research has revealed, the site has a very long history. A nearby summit, visible from the later sanctuary, was center of worship since the Prehistoric (mycenean) times. In Archaic period the summit sanctuary was dedicated to hero Maleatas, who was later absorbed by Apollo and worshiped as Apollo Maleatas. AsklepiosBy the end of 6th century BC however, even Apollo as major deity was displaced by his son Asklepios, whose name henceforth appeared first on dedications. At the same time the worship of Asklepios was also transplanted to a beautiful valley below the hills, where the slow evolution of the later famous sanctuary began. The complete transformation of the humble sanctuary to an imposing Panhellenic healing center was possible only after the end of the devastating Peloponesian War. Once the political life returned more or less to normal, temple-building activity which was halted for some years because of war, was resumed. It is no conincidence that the extended transformation of the sancturary after the middle of the 4th century BC closely responded to the sudden flourishing of the Asklepios cult, itself a result of deep changes brought by the crisis of the war which transformed the political and, consequently, the religious beliefs of the Greeks.

Parallel to the practice of healing incubation, the cult of Asklepios included the full range of contests traditionally related to divine worship in the Ancient World. As testified by the Pindaric Hodes to victorious athletes, athletic games where practiced at Epidaurus long before the grandiloquent edifices became part of its man-made landscape. Musical and theatrical contests soon became part of the celebrations, which were held every four years, honoring god's birthday. With the adoption of Asklepios cult in all parts of the Ancient World (mainland Greece, Asia Minor, North Africa etc) the Epidaurians found themselves in charge of an almost international sanctuary, for which they felt obliged to provide the necessary status in terms of architecture. The elegant post-Classical Temple of Asklepios was built first, while a full range of religious and secular buildings followed. Amongst them was the famous theater. The building activity continued well into the third century BC. The 2nd century AD traveller Pausanias, who most probably visited the Asklepeion around AD 138, left us a vivid and precious account of the state of the Sanctuary at his days.