Four kilometers southwest of Kos Town is the Kos Asklepieion. It was built on a 100 meter high hill, rewarding visitors with a view of Kos Town and the opposite coast of Asia Minor, with Turkey's Bodrum and ancient Halicarnassus. An Asklepieion (Greek: Ασκληπιείο, also known as Asklepion or Latin Aeskulapium) was a place where Asklepios, the god of medicine, was worshiped. Very often the art of healing was also taught and practiced in these places. There were around 300 such sites in ancient Greece, and the Asklepieion of Kos is one of the most important sites of this type. The German archeology professor Rudolf Herzog and the historian Jakob Zarafti from Kos began archaeological excavations in 1902. They lasted until 1904 and brought to light temples, trophies and inscriptions. The imposing Asklepieion extends over three terraces, which are connected to each other via large open staircases. A staircase leads to the lower terrace, which was entered through a gate (propylon) in ancient times. This was followed by the columned halls (stoa), which surrounded the large square on three sides. Adjacent to this were rooms where the patients presumably lived. Two underground rooms intended for patients suffering from leprosy or venereal diseases were also found. At the eastern end of the terrace are the remains of a thermal bath (bath facility) from Roman times. Due to its structural condition, this may not be entered. Already in the 4th century B.C. On the middle terrace, the oldest part of the complex, an altar and a small temple were built in the Ionian style, dedicated to Asklepios, the god of medicine. A semi-circular exedra (podium, porch) was built in the 3rd century B.C. built. Another Corinthian-style temple was dedicated to the god Apollo. It was created in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Source: insel-kos.info/sights/asklepieion.htm
The Asclepeion became known in ancient Greece mainly thanks to the skills and wisdom of its Asclepiads (doctors), and in particular because of Hippocrates, the most famous among them. Almost a must visit if you are on Kos.
Translated by Google •
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