SANCTUARY OF ASKLEPIOUS AT EPIDAURUS

The sanctuary of Asklepios is at Epidaurus. Epidaurus  was a small city in ancient Greece, at the Saronic Gulf. Two modern towns bear the name Epidavros : Palaia Epidavros and Nea Epidavros. They’ve belonged to the new municipality of Epidavros, part of the regional unit of Argolis, since 2010. The seat of the municipality is the town Asklipieio.

ITS LOCATION

The theatre of Epidaurus was built by a great architect called Polycleitus. He was a sculptor and an architect and he designed the ancient theatre of Epidaurus and the circular building. The construction begun in 300 BC and was completed in 340 BC .Many people worked on it.

WHO BUILT IT

The theatre was a great place to present excellent theatrical performances . The place also used to be a great place for rehearsals. Furthermore , many musical plays and dramas had been played in this place. Today, many theatrical performances are still played in this theatre.

ITS USE

The theatre of the city of Epidaurus was discovered in 1970. The excavations began in 1972 by the then director of the Ephorate , Mrs E. Deilaki , and lasted a few months, bringing to light most of the monument. A second, restricted investigation was carried out in 1989, without entirely revealing it. Once the required works are in progress, the monument protected and the safety of its visitors assured, the Town Hall of Ancient Epidaurus has the intention to organise an annual music festival. It will bring to life this small theatre which had been in use for centuries along with the larger and more famous one at the Sanctuary of Asklepios (Lygourio).

WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED

The truth is that we can visit this monument not only to see it but we can also watch a play. Around the monument there is a wonderful forest that offers the landscape a great view.

Can we visit it?

The most striking feature of this ancient theatre is the stunning and well-preserved spectators building with its extraordinary acoustics. The stage is in the middle but the spectators that sit at the top can listen everything that the actors say . This is the most important thing in this theatre.

STRIKING FEATURE

The sanctuary of Asklepios is in Epidaurus . It was believed that patients who slept in the sleeping halls near the theatre would be visited in their dreams by the god of medicine , Asklepios , who would instruct them on the appropriate treatment for their illness .

THE SANCTUARY

PICTURES

SOURCES odysseus.culture.gr

http://www.greatbuildings.com