The Temple of Asclepius & the Theater of Epidaurus

Famous for its extraordinarily well-preserved ancient theater, the archaeological site of Epidaurus is a one of the most iconic landmarks in the Peloponnese!

Follow the guide!

Brief history of Epidaurus & the Temple of Asclepius

An ancestral therapeutic site

While the sanctuary of Asclepius was founded in the 6^th century BC, its origins are much more distant!

In the 2^nd millennium BC, the site was occupied by a therapeutic sanctuary where patients gathered to implore divine healing. At the time, any hope of recovery was based on religious believes: patients hoped to win the favors of the gods by participating in ceremonial rituals.

Over the centuries, these religious ceremonies were enriched with more tangible curative practices and thus gradually shifted towards actual medical science.

In the 8^th century B.C., the sanctuary adopted the cult of Apollo Maleatas, then that of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, in the 6^th century BC.

The Temple of Asclepius

The Temple of Asclepius was ounded in the 6^th century BC. It was the first sanatorium in history and quickly became the most important therapeutic center of the ancient world. In the centuries that followed, the medicinal practices implemented in the sanctuary slowly spread through the Greco-Roman world as a whole. This explains why the Temple of Asclepius is unanimously considered as the cradle of medicine.

The Asclepia: Panhellenic games

Like the sanctuaries of Delphi and Olympia, the sanctuary of Asclepius also held great panhellenic games: competitions organized in honor of the gods.

Probably created in the 6^th century BC, these games included athletic as well as cultural competitions: running, horseback riding, wrestling, music and poetry.

The last historical trace of the Asclepia dates from the 3^rd century AD.

The theater of Epidaurus

Built in the 4^th or the 3^rd century BC, the Theater of Epidaurus is said to be the work of the architect Polykleitos the Younger.

With a capacity of 6,200 people at the time of its construction, the theater was enlarged in the 2^nd century BC to accommodate up to 12,000 spectators.

The Ancient Theater of Epidaurus is still considered an architectural masterpiece partly because of its incredible acoustics: a whisper at the bottom of the stands can indeed be heard all the way to the top of the theater!

The archaeological site today

Discovered in the 19^th century, the Temple of Asclepius and the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus were the subject of major excavations conducted by the Greek archaeologist Panagiotis Kavvadias from the year 1879.

In 1988, Epidaurus was listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Visiting the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus & the Temple of Asclepius

Visiting the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus

Considered to be the best preserved ancient theater in the world, the theater of Epidaurus (built in the 4^th century B.C.) has stood the test of time and remains to this day miraculously unscathed! It is one of Captain Ulysses’ favorite landmarks in the Peloponnese!

If you have very little time to visit the ancient site of Epidaurus, the Captain recommends ocusing on the theater, nestled 500 meters from the temple, in the middle of a breathtaking scenery.

During your visit, be sure to test the theater’s incredible acoustics: from the top of the stands you can hear every word whispered on the stage!

Visiting the Temple of Asclepius

While it may not be quite as impressive as Mycenae, Delphi or Olympia, the Temple of Asclepius remains a fascinating archaeological site, and is well worth a visit. The site is particularly beautiful in spring, when it is covered with small country flowers.

During your visit, be sure to have a look at:

• the Temple of Asclepius, where once stood a large chryselephantine statue of the god of medicine
• the tholos, a large circular temple in white marble where the sacred snakes of the sanctuary might ver well have been kept
• the 70-meter-long portico, where the patients waited to be visited in dream by the god Asclepius
• the propylaea, a monumental vestibule which marked the entry to the sanctuary of Asclepius
• the stadium, where the Asclepia, the panhellenic games were once held

The museum of Epidaurus

Before leaving the site of Epidaurus, don’t forget to visit the museum, where you’ll be able to admire a small collection of sculptures and architectural elements discovered during the excavations.

The museum’s models and reconstructions give a nice glimpse of what the sanctuary might have looked like in ancient times.

Theatrical performances in Epidaurus

Since 1954, the Festival of Epidaurus has been inviting theater lovers to attend plays and lyrical performances in the ancient theater of Epidaurus.

Performances take place every Friday and Saturday evening from June to September.

Access

Getting to Epidaurus

Driving to Epidaurus

Epidaurus is located in the northeast of the Peloponnese, 140 kilometers from Athens and about 65 kilometers from the Isthmus of Corinth.

From the capital, it’ll take around 2 hours to get to the archaeological site.

Getting the bus to Epidaurus

During the high season (May to October), a bus service runs from Athens to Epidaurus twice a day.

While this may not be the most practical option to get to the ancient site, it is definitely the cheapest solution.

You’ll find detailed information on the timetable and prices on the website of the bus company.

Excursions to Epidaurus

If you are staying in Athens and want to explore the Peloponnese from the capital, the Captain advises opting for a day trip.

Captain Ulysses recommends two day-trips in particular:

• From Athens: Bus Trip to Mycenae, Epidaurus & Nafplio
• From Athens: Mycenae, Epidaurus & Nafplio Private Tour

Want to find out more about Nafplio? Feel free to have a look at the article of Captain Ulysses!

Opening times of the archaeological site of Epidaurus

The archaeological site of Epidaurus is open every day of the year except January 1^st, March 25, May 1^st, Easter Sunday, December 25 and 26.

Schedules vary depending on the time of year:

Entrance tickets for the site of Epidaurus

The entrance ticket is valid for the archaeological site and the museum. Rates vary depending on the time of year:

Where to stay near the Temple of Asclepius and the ancient site of Epidaurus?

If you wish to stay near the archaeological site of Epidaurus, Captain Ulysses warmly recommends staying in the small coastal town of Archea Epidavros.

You’ll find here a selection of hotels offering quality services. The Captain stayed at the Aktis Hotel which offers a very good quality/price ratio.

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