The theatre of The Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus

[george_ts]

In the picturesque valley with a magical environment, where there were natural and healing sources, the sanctum of Asklepios was built in ancient times. It developed, over the years, to become the famous therapeutic center where many of the patients came from everywhere to the god "Deliverer", as they called him. Symbols of the Asklepios were the snake, the stick and the pot of therapeutic fluid.
In the valley, at first, appeared a prehistoric settlement. The king of Epidavros "Malo" built then the first sanctuary in honor of Apollo of Maleata. According to the local tradition, Asklepios was son of Apollo and Koronidos, daughter of the Thessaly king, Flegia. Askelpios was born at the Tithio rock, where his mother left him because she feared the anger of her father Flegia. So she left the child and a goat found and suckled the baby and the dog from the flock notified the shepherd, who found the infant. Then the first mountain was named Tithio in honor of the goat and the next mountain named "Kinos" in honor of the dog that found him.
The influence and the brilliancy of Asklepios as the most important therapeutic god, brought huge economic power to the sanctuary during the 4th and 3rd century b.c, and the large group of buildings in the area materialized. Under the cover of these monumental buildings, the whole worship took place.

Ancient Theater of Asklepiou Epidavros

Its one of the most important and beautiful archeological places around Greece
In a green plain, surrounded by friendly mountains, a place of worldwide brilliancy and culture, the Ancient theatre at the side of mountain Kinortiou, the miracle of Epidavros, was built by the architect and sculptor Argous Poliklito the last. He is renowned for his exceptional - practically perfect - acoustics, exhibited by the Theatre. It built in two separate stages, the first at the end of the 4th century b.c. and the second in the middle of the 2nd century, when the famous three part characteristic of the Greek Theatre was finalized in Epidavros: concave - orchestra - stage. The highest distance of the concave is 58m while the diameter of the orchestra is about 20m. There are two friezes that separate into 13 stairs and 12 benches at the lower level and into 23 benches and 22 stairs at the upper level.
The theater displays the perfect form of the antique architecture, impressive with its beauty and symmetry. The capacity of the theatre is about 15.000 seats. The systematic excavation was started in 1881 by the archeologist Panagioti Kavvadia. The wonderful acoustics are the attraction of large number of visitors each year. Here, every summer, the Festival of Epidavros is held with famous performances of ancient drama and comedy.
It was already praised in antiquity by Pausanias for its symmetry and beauty.







THe Waterway in Epidavros....

Well

[LEAFS FANATIC]

Absolutely stunning!

Another example of what Greece has contributed to this world!

I have been there and you can actually hear a coin drop in the center of the theatre even if you are sitting in the very last row!

Talk about engineering geniouses!

Helladara!

[george_ts]

I know my friend I was there as well it is apsolutely stunning and the Nature I found some pics from the surounding will post them

Ρε ανατριχιάζω μόνο που το θυμάμαι
ΕΛΛΑΣ ΓΙΑ ΠΑΝΤΑ

[LEAFS FANATIC]

George, file mou,

Great post! I ahve added some more pics of this architectural wonder!

[george_ts]

and here a statue from asklipios from the Epidavros Museum


and here some other artefacts




by the way your pics are great too