Asklepios is the Greek god of medicine. In mythology he was the son of Apollo and the Thessalian king’s daughter Koronis. His mother died during delivery. He was suckled by a goat. The centaur Chiron educated him and taught him medicine. He could not only heal the sick but even bring the dead back to life. Zeus was so envious of this that he killed him with his lightning. In the Asclepioscult he was a deity who was worshiped in the form of a snake. Towards the end of the 6th century BC. the cult of the Thessalian Trikka was transferred to Epidauros and rose to unprecedented height in the 4th century. From far and wide the sick came to the divine healer for healing. They were put to sleep in the temple. The god appeared to them in sleep to heal them. It could also be that he appeared to them in a vision to give them the right medicine. Buildings for the pilgrims were created around the temple. Many poems testified of grateful believers. From Epidauros the cult spread over the Old World. In the sanctuary of the island of Kos, medicine was practiced scientifically at the school of Hippocrates. Asklepios was later brought to Rome where he was honored as Aesculapius. Staff and snake (esculape) have been the international symbols for the medical professions since ancient times.
With the mention of the cult image, Pausanias makes a start with his description of the great sanctuary for Asklepios. The entire site is a “sacred forest”, so a site dedicated to Asklepios that originally had countless trees. (Remnants of) several buildings can be viewed on the site:
A – B – C temple complex of Asclepios G katagogeion (hotel)
D The temple of Artemis H theatre
E gymnasium odeion
F stadium