Apollo Maleatas

Apollo Maleatas

The sanctuary for Apollo Maleatas, located at a 2 km. of the great Asklepios shrine, is currently being reconstructed. Originally the cult of Apollo was the most important, while that of Asklepios and his sons originated in Thessaly, from where it spread to the south, and from the 6th century BC. blossomed in Epidauros. The most beautiful monuments that are now clearly visible are the cisterns that belong to the neighboring nymphaion, the large 4th century altar, of the same type as the one at the great temple of Asklepios, but strongly reconstructed here, and the holy court (temenos) dedicated to the muses.

 

Photos above: the sanctuary upon entry, under the shelter the (meager) remains of the temple, then a holy court (temenos) dedicated to the Muses, a small rectangular area, with a fence of marble and stone separated from the rest of the terrain, and with large rough stones as a background that refer to the caves visited by the Muses (at the very bottom (with a complex on the left in the background consisting of a larger propylon and a priest’s house). Below, the large altar, the cisterns and the large retaining wall for the stoa.