Epidaurus

Lore & Background

Epidaurus was independent of Argos and not included in Argolis until Roman times. It was reputed to be founded by or named for the hero Epidaurus, son of Apollo, and to be the birthplace of Apollo's son Asclepius the healer. According to Strabo, the city was originally named Epíkaros under the Carians, then Epítauros under the Ionians, and finally Epídauros after the Dorians conquered it.

Reader's Guide

Epidaurus holds significance as the site of the most celebrated healing centre of the Classical world, the Sanctuary of Asclepius. The cult of Asclepius is attested from the 6th century BC, and the sanctuary flourished until the first half of the first century BC, when it was sacked by Sulla during the First Mithridatic War. It was revived after a visit by Hadrian in AD 124 and continued as a Christian healing centre into the mid 5th century. The ancient theatre, designed by Polykleitos the Younger in the 4th century BC, seats up to 14,000 people and is noted for its acoustics, which allow unamplified spoken words to be heard throughout, though intelligibility requires good projection. The sanctuary and theatre were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988 for their exemplary architecture and importance in the development of healing sanctuaries across the ancient Greek and Roman worlds.

Did You Know?

• The name 'Epidaurus' is of Greek origin, named after the hero Epidauros, son of Apollo.
• The sanctuary was sacked by Sulla during the First Mithridatic War in the first half of the first century BC.
• The theatre's exceptional acoustics are due to its overall design and materials, not a specific filtering or amplification mechanism of the limestone seats.
• The town of Epidaurus had its own smaller theatre with about 2,000 seats, dating from the 4th century BC.