On a mountain close to Epidauros Koronis is said to have given birth to Asklepios; the hieron of Epidauros was a famous place of worship of Asklepios. Here the sacred serpent, twining around the healer's staff, was nurtured, it was here the sick and ailing flocked in, hoping for a cure from the god. Epidauros was literally what we would call a spa today, with a hotel of about 180 rooms attached. Countless inscriptions tell us of successful healings which, aside from the god's help, were certainly due to his skilled priests and the healthy climate. At the entrance to the sacred district an inscription reminded the visitor to

Come as a good man, leave as a better

«The sacred grove of Asclepius is surrounded on all sides by boundary marks. No death or birth takes place within the enclosure the same custom prevails also in the island of Delos. All the offerings, whether the offerer be one of the Epidaurians themselves or a stranger, are entirely consumed within the bounds. […] The image of Asclepius is, in size, half as big as the Olympian Zeus at Athens, and is made of ivory and gold. An inscription tells us that the artist was Thrasymedes, a Parian, son of Arignotus. The god is sitting on a seat grasping a staff; the other hand he is holding above the head of the serpent; there is also a figure of a dog lying by his side. On the seat are wrought in relief the exploits of Argive heroes, that of Bellerophontes against the Chimaera, and Perseus, who has cut off the head of Medusa. Over against the temple is the place where the suppliants of the god sleep. Near has been built a circular building of white marble, called Tholos (Round House), which is worth seeing. In it is a picture by Pausias representing Eros, who has cast aside his bow and arrows, and is carrying instead of them a lyre that he has taken up.»
(Pausanias, Guide to Greece, 2.27.1-3)

«[…] in addition to a sea bath the patient made token ablutions at the eastern water basin, proceeded to both altar and temple and then to the lustral area for proper cleansing before entering the main hall of the abaton or inner sanctum. There the patient lay down on a pallet on the floor, and presently an attendant put out the lights and urged sleep and silence. Then in the patient's dream the god came with an attendant carrying mortar, pestle and medicine chest, mixing a potion, applying a plaster, using the knife or summoning a sacred serpent to lick the afflicted part. If the dream was suggested by an actual priest making his rounds, the cure to which the patient attested on waking was still a thing worthy of wonder and thankfulness.»
(Excerpt from "The Asclepion" by Prof. N. Demand, Indiana University - Bloomington)

Also part of the sacred district was the still famous theatre as well as many of other buildings, for example an odeion, the race-course and a gymnasium. Every five years, nine days after the Isthmic Games ended, the Asklepieia, the festival dedicated to Asklepios took place during which the statue of the god was carried through the streets in a festive procession to the sound of hymns, escorted by torchbearers and chariots. After the procession the ritual sacrifices were made, followed by poetic, musical and athletic tournaments. On Kos the erection of Asklepios' staff at the god's cypress was one of the festival's highlights.

«The Epidaurians have a theater within the sanctuary, in my opinion very well worth seeing. For while the Roman theaters are far superior to those anywhere else in their splendor, and the Arcadian theater at Megalopolis is unequalled for size, what architect could seriously rival Polycleitus in symmetry and beauty? For it was Polycleitus who built both this theater and the circular building. Within the grove are a temple of Artemis, an image of Epione, a sanctuary of Aphrodite and Themis, a race-course consisting, like most Greek race-courses, of a bank of earth, and a fountain worth seeing for its roof and general splendour.»
(Pausanias, Guide to Greece, 2.27.5)

The theatre of Epidauros used to be one of the most famous buildings in ancient Greece and is still in good condition. The impressive construction with its 15,000 seats is still used for performances.

Other sources/credits:
• Sungaya - Das schwarze Netz (content) •
• The Perseus Digital Library (images of Epidauros) •
• FireStorm Acoma (coding emergency rescue force)•
• Asklepios Artistides (all other images, layout) •