History
Epidaurus is independent of Argos and is not included in Argolis until Rome. With its supportive territory, it forms a small area called Epidauria. Famous as the birthplace of Apollo's son Asclepius, healer, Epidaurus is known for the sanctuary which is located about five miles (8 km) from the city, as well as the theater company, which is once again in use today. The cult of Asclepius in Epidaurus is evidenced in the 6th century BC, when the older hilltop sanctuaries of Apollo Maleatas are no longer large enough. There are two other similarly named Greek cities. One Epidaurus in Dalmatia and another Limera Epidaurus in Laconia. The asclepieion in Epidaurus is the most famous healing center in the Classical world, where the sick go away in the hope of being healed. To find out the right medicine for their illness, they spend the night in enkoimeteria, a large sleeping room. In their dreams, the god himself will suggest them what they must do to regain their health. Found in the sanctuary, there is a guest house for 160 guest rooms. There are also mineral springs around that may have been used in healing.
Epidaurus is southeast of Delphi, on the peninsula of Argos.
Asclepius, the most important healing god of antiquity, brought prosperity to the sanctuary, which in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC embarked on an ambitious program to enlarge the building and reconstruction of monumental buildings. Fame and prosperity continued throughout the Hellenistic period. In 87 BC the Temple was looted by Roman general Sulla, and in 67 BC, he was robbed by pirates. In the 2nd century, the sanctuary enjoyed a new revival under Rome, but in AD 395 with the Goths raided the sanctuary. Even after the introduction of Christianity and silencing of prophecy, the sanctuary in Epidauros is still known as the late middle of the 5th century, though as a Christian healing center.
Theater
The prosperity brought by Epidaurus Asklepieion is activated to build a civil monument as well: a large theater that likes Pausanias for symmetry and beauty, used once more for dramatic performances, ceremonial Hestiatoreion (banquet hall), bath and Palaestra. The theater was designed by the Young Polykleitos in the 4th century BC. The original 34 lines were extended in Roman times with another 21 lines. As usual for Greek theater (and as opposed to the Romans), the look on the lush landscape behind Skene is an integral part of the theater itself and should not be obscured. It accommodates up to 15,000 people.
The theater is awe-inspiring for acoustics, which allows almost perfect clarity of unamplified words of proscenium or Skene for all 15,000 spectators, regardless of their seats (see Ref, in Greek). Famously, the tour guides have their groups scattered in the stands and show them how they can easily hear the sound of the match attacking center-stage. A 2007 study by Nico F. Declercq and Cindy Dekeyser of the Georgia Institute of Technology demonstrated that the acoustical properties are astonishing in terms of accidents or the results of sophisticated design products: The limestone seat rows filter out low-frequency sounds, such as the murmur of the crowd, and strengthen / reflecting the high frequency of sound from the stage.
City
The Epidaurus city (Epidavros) was formed in 2011 of local government reform with the merger of the following two towns, which became a city unit:
- Asklipieio
- Epidaurus
