Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Epidauros

Epidauros is best known for its theatre, but it was actually the oldest and perhaps largest of ancient Greece's Asclepeions: healing centers. Asclepeios, the god of healing, was the son of Apollo and was born at Epidauros. We saw many such healing centers of Greek origin in Turkey.
The theatre in Epidauros, reputedly the best in the Greek
world; which must mean Greece, because we saw half a
dozen better in Turkey

















Vicki checks out the front-row seat-backs




















And the acoustics, which were remarkable (we had
the place to ourselves, as we often do, camping on
site the night before, getting an early start, way ahead of the
tour buses)

















Surgical instruments in the museum















Offering in thanks for healing deafness (original in Athens)















Main hall of the museum














Statue of Asclepios; note the snake thing;
the Hippocratic oath is addressed to Apollo
and Asclepeios




















Out on the grounds, near the ruins of the baths, where we
had camped
















More of the grounds; such healing centers included baths,
gymnasium, temples, theatre, lodgings for priests and
patients...
















Even a stadium

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