Epidauros is located on a small peninsula in the eastern Peloponnesus, on the Saronic Gulf coast, and surrounded by mountains. The area is described in The Iliad as 'green with vines', and has a long history in both war and peace.




The Asklepios cult increased in popularity during the 5th century, peaking in the 4th century BCE, when the Epidauros had more than 200 asklepieia across the Greek world under her patronage. Interest in Asklepios increased again in the 2nd century BCE, and the temple was expanded to include other gods, such as Ammon and Isis.

The cult of Asklepios has left its mark in the modern world, as well. The rod of Asklepios is a widely recognized symbol of medicine. The belief in the curative powers of Epidauros continued into the 5th century CE, when the city was known as a Christian healing center. The prosperity brought to Epidauros by the popularity of the Asklepieion allowed the city to undertake great projects, such as the theater at Epidauros.






Text

• Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography – William Smith
• The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites – Richard Stillwell, et al.
• Hellenic Ministry of Culture
• Wikipedia

Images

• Wikipedia
• The Perseus Digital Library - Photographs by Raymond V. Schoder, Kimberly Patton