A short walk from the Theatre of Epidavros, and dotted with pine trees, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Asclepius, dedicated to the god of healing. The ruins include the huge katagogeion , a hostelry for pilgrims and patients, the large banquet hall in which the Romans built an odeum (a room for musical performances), and the stadium – the venue for the Festival of Asclepieia’s athletic competitions. Just beyond is the remarkable tholos building, the Temple of Asclepius and the abaton .
You first reach the large, square katagogeion , beyond which is the former-gymnasium-cum-banquet-hall in which the Romans built an odeum. It was here that the Festival of Asclepieia took place.
The path meanders past the remains of the stadium on your left. Ahead is the circular tholos (built 360–320 BC and under heavy reconstruction at research time), originally surrounded by two circles of columns: Doric and Corinthian. In the centre there used to be a small labyrinth and one of the theories is that patients were put in there for a 'healing encounter' with snakes.
To the northeast are the foundations of the Temple of Asclepius and next to them is the abaton . The therapies practised here seemed to have depended on the influence of the mind upon the body. It is believed that patients were given a pep talk by a priest on the powers of Asclepius, then put to sleep in the abaton to dream of a visitation by the god. The dream would hold the key to the healing process.
East is the Sanctuary of Egyptian Gods , which indicates that the cult of Asclepius was an adaptation of the cult of Imhotep, worshipped in Egypt for his healing powers.
