This site is justly famous for its magnificent Theatre. However, there’s also an interesting museum and a full archaeological site to explore, including a stadium and a sanctuary. What almost everyone misses is the much smaller theatre and site at Palea Epidaurus about 5 miles away from the main site. This theatre was built at the time of Alexander the Great. Visitors can’t go into the theatre, just admire it from behind the fence. 

In general, knowing the history and legends associated with each of the sites on the Peloponnese will help visitors understand the places they’re seeing and increase their enjoyment. 

According to legend, Asklepios, a son of Apollo, was trained in the healing arts by the centaur Cheiron. Asklepios became so adept that he was able to raise the dead. This came to the notice of Zeus who was jealous and killed Asklepios with a thunderbolt. Asklepios was buried at Epidaurus and became the object of a cult of healing. Hippocrates of Kos claimed authority from him as did the great Greek doctors. The doctor’s emblem of today, the 21st Century, is the rod of Asklepios, a bearded figure leaning on an augur’s wand accompanied by a magic serpent. 

The Epidaurus treatment would proceed through stages of sacrifice and purification before sleeping in a sacred dormitory. Treatments suggested by the priests were accompanied by exercises, baths, and intellectual pursuits. This explains the importance given to the theatre and the sports facilities. The Asklepian Games were held every four years. As medicine moved on to use more scientific methods, Epidaurus languished but had one more day of importance when the Independence of Greece was proclaimed in the theatre in 1822. 

There is probably no better place to proclaim anything than this theatre as the acoustics are perfect – standing on the top row of the theatre I heard someone on the stage asking their companion what they were going to eat for lunch. The reason for the wonderful acoustics is that the limestone seats filter out low-frequency sounds and amplify the high-frequency ones. The theatre was designed by Polykleitos the Younger in the 4th Century BC and originally had 34 rows with 21 further rows being added in Roman times. The theatre can seat 14,000 people. The views of the surrounding hills are beautiful.