However, Asklepios wasnt the first healing god worshipped in this area. Werner Blaser and Monica Stucky. "mainEntity": [{ 18th ed., revised by J.C. Palmes. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the WHE Publishing Director. Epidaurus. Asclepius, the most important healer god of antiquity, brought prosperity to the sanctuary, which in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC embarked on an ambitious building program for enlarging and reconstruction of monumental buildings. In 1988, the theatre, along with the entire Sanctuary of Asklepios, was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ionian pilasters flanking the two gates architecturally linked the stage to the retaining walls of the auditorium. This combination of details and expert engineering has resulted in the best conserved ancient theatre, of its kind, in the world. The acoustics were good, but nothing extraordinary. }, { Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Theatre of Epidaurus was built in 340 BC by the architect Polykleitos the Younger, from Argos. The functionality of Epidaurus is what makes this ancient site a modern miracle. NA950.Y37. "acceptedAnswer": { The safety of the site is ensured with an adequate and qualified security staff. The theatres design was unique throughout Greece, and aimed to enhance the viewing experience. Expanded 1996 edition available at Amazon.com. "Theatre, Epidaurus, built during the last quarter of the fourth century B.C.The harmony of its cavea, the way it 'sits' in the landscape with the semicircle hollowed out of the side of the hill, and the quality of its acoustics make the Epidaurus theatre one of the great architectural achievements of the fourth century. The Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus is a remarkable testament to the healing cults of the Ancient World and witness to the emergence of scientific medicine. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1967. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Updated 1996 edition available at Amazon.com, Howard Davis, University of Oregon. The Sanctuary, with management that is considered successful, receives more than 250.000 visitors annually. Het uitgestrekte gebied met zijn tempels en hospitalen gewijd aan de genezende goden, geeft een waardevol inzicht in de genezingscultus van de Griekse en Romeinse tijd. Extensions were made in the 2nd century BCE taking its capacity to 12,000. Lets have a look into the sites history, and why it was so important. The biggest construction in the grounds of the sanctuary was a large guesthouse with 160 rooms, known as theKatagogio. discussion, p62. photo, plan and section drawings, p244. The Epidaurus Festival continues today and is carried out during the summer months. source: UNESCO/ERI It has a perfectly executed tripartite structure characteristic of Hellenistic period theatres: auditorium, orchestra, and stage building (skene). During the first half of 2 th century. Travel & Tour Operator License: 026160000560101, The Story of the Epidaurus Ancient Theater, 12-Day Family Trip to Athens, Nafplio and Hydra, The design of the theater's seats and stage allows for, The theater, along with the rest of the archaeological site of Epidaurus, has been recognized as a, Today, the Epidaurus Theater continues to host performances during the annual. Constructed in late 4th century BC,[1] it is considered to be the most perfect ancient Greek theatre with regard to acoustics and aesthetics. In some regions, it was even believed that Asclepius could bring people back from the Underworld. } The ground plan of the auditorium covers more than a semi-circle, and is slightly elliptical. This entailed extensive excavation and restoration work by the Greek Education Ministrys Department of Restoration. The World Heritage property contains within its boundaries all the key attributes that convey the Outstanding Universal Value of the Sanctuary. Also, have a look at this article on Euphoria Retreat near Mystras, a unique spa resort that follows the principles of Hippocratic medicine! Pausanias visited the Epidaurus Theatre in the mid-2nd century AD, that is to say at least four centuries after the completion of the second phase of construction, and expressed his infinite admiration for its symmetry and beauty. "Epidaurus." This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I was absolutely fascinated with the story behind Ancient Epidaurus and the Asklepieion, and I hope you will be too! The Theater of Epidaurus was built in the 4th century BC by Polykleitos the Younger on the slope of Mount Kynortio at an incline of 26 degrees. Grab the opportunity for aday trip to Argolison one of our Greece vacation packages, and experience first-hand the ancient theater of Epidauros, the site closely related to the birth of the drama in ancient Greece. Developed by iSmart. While the auditorium was buried under a thin layer of soil and preserved, the ruins of the stage-buildings, which remained above ground, were systematically looted throughout the periods of Venetian and Turkish rule. It was built to host musical and theatrical shows in his honour. The Ancient theatre at Epidaurus has been hosting various open-air performances since 1954. Keep in the right-hand lane, pass underneath the Motorway, and then turn left onto the Corinth-Epidaurus B-road in the direction of Epidaurus. The second phase of works came immediately after the Second World War, when the main aim was to shore up the monument and make it safe and suitable for summer performances of ancient drama as part of the Epidaurus Festival. Excavation works at the archaeological site began in 1881. In a small valley in the Peloponnesus, the shrine of Asklepios, the god of medicine, developed out of a much earlier cult of Apollo (Maleatas), during the 6th century BC at the latest, as the official cult of the city state of Epidaurus. The close and fruitful cooperation with the local community is further promoted by lectures, educational programs and guided tours, especially for the schools. The long-held ideological fixation with modern Greeces historical unbroken links to its ancient past at last found both comprehensive institutional expression and the ideal home. The ancient theater of Epidaurus was built in 1 The quarter 3 th century. B.C. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Saniflo Upflush. Ancient Epidaurus Theatre - Poseidonion By 1988, three decades of intensive and unregulated use necessitated a third phase of restoration work. As you will notice, all monuments in the archaeological complex are clearly marked. It is built on the west side of Cynortion Mountain, near modern Lygourio, and belongs to the Epidaurus Municipality. "@type": "Answer", The architect chose a bow shaped site facing west, so the rising sun would light up the landscape behind the stage. Epidaurus ancient ruins - credits: bloodua/Depositphotos.com. Fortifications, a theatre and tholos tombs have been excavated dating as early as the 15th century BCE, although it was in the 12th century BCE that Epidaurus Limera, with its harbour linking it to the Aegean trade network, particularly flourished. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the WHE Publishing Director. It is argued that the Theatre of Epidaurus is the grandest and best-preserved in all of Greece, making it a must-see for travelers who come to Athens (Epidaurus is only 2 hours away from Athens!). However, the outbreak of the Second World War led to any further activities being shelved. Criterion (i): The Theatre of Epidaurus is an architectural masterpiece designed by the architect from Argos, Polykleitos the Younger, and represents a unique artistic achievement through its admirable integration into the site as well as the perfection of its proportions and acoustics. Ancient Theatre in Epidaurus, Greece | Greeka Cartwright, Mark. These contests at the Sanctuary (held in the theatre, the stadium and elsewhere) formed an integral part of the activities conducted in honour of the god of medicine. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Today, almost 2359 years after its foundation, the striking monument still attracts visitors from all over the world, looking to experience its charm through ancient drama performances. Asclepius Though there are three accounts of the birth of Asclepius, the most straightforward myth surrounding him, is that he is son to Apollo and Coronis of Thessaly, born by his mortal mother in Epidaurus. Another important building was theStoaof theAbaton, also known as theEnkoimeterion, where patients were brought for therapy. Remove Ads Advertisement About the Author Mark Cartwright Mark is a full-time author, researcher, historian, and editor. no image credit. The lower rows of the upper and lower auditoriums have a presidency form, namely places reserved for important people. We care about our planet! LC 84-25375. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Sanctuary of Asclepius Due to this special design, the architects achieved both optimal acoustics and an opening for better viewing. The long-term goal is to offer to the public a legible and understandable monumental complex that will reveal the operation of the Sanctuary during ancient times. World History Encyclopedia is an Amazon Associate and earns a commission on qualifying book purchases. Originally Ionic, Epidaurus became Doric under the influence of Argos, to which it owed religious allegiance; politically it remained independent. Epidaurus - Wikipedia Los amo. "@type": "Question", The orchestra is surrounded by a special underground drainage pipeline of 1.99 m width, called the euripos. , , , , IV . .. Vooral de tempel van Asklepios, de Tholos en het Theater worden beschouwd als voorbeelden van de meest zuivere meesterwerken van de Griekse architectuur. Epidaurus was an ancient religious site and settlement located on the fertile Argolid plain of the east Peloponnese in Greece. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. In ancient times, the community of Ancient Epidaurus functioned as a port. The theater is divided into two unequal parts. Will we continue historically preserving and rebuild on current locations? New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1975. Travel inspiration straight to your inbox, 2022. Henri Stierlin. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. Why the Epidaurus Theatre Has Such Amazing Acoustics - Gizmodo In 1954 however, they began again in the context of an organized festival, which was established as an annual event for ancient drama in 1955, known as the Epidaurus Festival. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. A view of the orchestra of the Theatre of Epidaurus taken from the steps of the audience seats. The Amazing Acoustics of the Epidaurus Theatre - Today I Found Out