Epidaurus Ἐπίδαυρος | |
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  Epidaurus Location within the region  | |
| Coordinates:37°35′52″N23°04′28″E / 37.59778°N 23.07444°E /37.59778; 23.07444 | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Peloponnese |
| Regional unit | Argolis |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 340.4 km2 (131.4 sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 160.6 km2 (62.0 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Municipality | 7,030 |
| • Density | 21/km2 (53/sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 3,418 |
| • Municipal unit density | 21/km2 (55/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 210 59 |
| Vehicle registration | AP |
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name | Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus |
| Criteria | Cultural: i, ii, iii, iv, vi |
| Reference | 491 |
| Inscription | 1988 (12thSession) |
| Area | 1,393.8 ha |
| Buffer zone | 3,386.4 ha |
Epidaurus (Greek:Ἐπίδαυρος) was a small city (polis) inancient Greece, on theArgolid Peninsula at theSaronic Gulf. Two modern towns bear the name Epidavros:Palaia Epidavros andNea Epidavros. Since 2010 they belong to the new municipality of Epidaurus, part of the regional unit ofArgolis. The seat of the municipality is the townLygourio.[2] The nearbysanctuary of Asclepius andancient theatre were inscribed on theUNESCOWorld Heritage List in 1988 because of their exemplary architecture and importance in the development and spread of healing sanctuaries and cults across the ancient Greek and Roman worlds.[3]
The name "Epidaurus" is ofGreek origin. It was named after the heroEpidauros, son ofApollo.[4] According toStrabo, the city was originally named Ἐπίκαρος (Epíkaros) under theCarians, (Aristotle claimed thatCaria, as a naval empire, occupied Epidaurus and Hermione)[5] before taking the name Ἐπίταυρος (Epítauros) when the city was taken by theIonians and finally becoming Ἐπίδαυρος (Epídauros) after theDorians conquered the city. Compare the individual elements ἐπί (epí, "upon"), Καρία (Karía, "Carian"), ταῦρος (taûros, "bull") and Δωριεύς (Dōrieús "Dorian")/Δωριεῖς (Dōrieîs, "Dorians").[6]
Epidaurus was independent ofArgos and not included inArgolis until the time of theRomans. With its supporting territory, it formed the small territory calledEpidauria. It was reputed to be founded by or named for the heroEpidaurus, and to be the birthplace ofApollo's sonAsclepius the healer.
Epidaurus is best known for its healing sanctuary (asclepieion) and the Sanctuary of Asclepius, situated about five miles (8 km) from the town, with itstheatre, which is still in use today. The cult of Asclepius at Epidaurus is attested in the 6th century BC, when the older hill-top sanctuary ofApollo Maleatas was no longer spacious enough. It was the most celebrated healing centre of the Classical world, the place where ill people went in the hope of being cured. To find out the right cure for their ailments, they spent a night in theenkoimeteria, a big sleeping hall. In their dreams, the god himself would advise them what they had to do to regain their health. Within the sanctuary there was a guest house (katagogion) with 160 guest rooms. There are also mineral springs in the vicinity, which may have been used in healing.
Asclepius, the most important healer god of antiquity, brought prosperity to the sanctuary, which flourished until the first half of the first century BC, when it suffered extensive damage when it was sacked bySulla during theFirst Mithridatic War. It was revived after a visit byHadrian in AD 124 and enjoyed renewed prosperity in the following centuries.[7]
In AD 395 theGoths raided the sanctuary. Even after the introduction ofChristianity and the silencing of theoracles, the sanctuary at Epidaurus was still known as late as the mid 5th century as aChristian healing centre.
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The prosperity brought by the asclepeion enabled Epidaurus to construct civic monuments, including the hugetheatre that delightedPausanias for its symmetry and beauty, used again today for dramatic performances, the ceremonialhestiatoreion (banqueting hall), and apalaestra.The ancient theatre of Epidaurus was designed byPolykleitos the Younger in the 4th century BC. The original 34 rows were extended in Roman times by another 21 rows. As is usual for Greek theatres (and as opposed to Roman ones), the view on a lush landscape behind theskênê is an integral part of the theatre itself and is not to be obscured. It seats up to 14,000 people.
The theatre has long had a reputation for its exceptionalacoustics, which reportedly allowed almost perfect intelligibility of unamplified spoken words from theproscenium orskēnē to all 14,000 spectators, regardless of their seating, a tale often recounted by tour guides.[8] In-situ measurements, however, somewhat moderate these claims: although most sounds can indeed be noticed throughout, intelligibility is not guaranteed, particularly for voice, which requires good projection,[9] which might not have been a problem for Greek actors, who were reputed experts in this aspect.[8] The acoustic properties are caused both by the physical shape, but also the construction material: the rows of limestone seats filter out low-frequency sounds, such as the murmur of the crowd, and also amplify the high-frequency sounds of the stage.[10]
The town of Epidaurus had its own theatre which has been excavated since 1990 and found to be well-preserved. Dating from the 4th c. BC it had about 2000 seats. It has been renovated and is open to the public, as part of a scheme to conserve and enhance ancient theatres which has mapped 140 ancient arenas across Greece.[11]
The municipality Epidavros was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following two former municipalities, that became municipal units:[2]
The municipality has an area of 340.442 km2, the municipal unit 160.604 km2.[12]
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| Regional unit ofArcadia |  | |
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| Regional unit ofArgolis | ||
| Regional unit ofCorinthia | ||
| Regional unit ofLaconia | ||
| Regional unit ofMessenia | ||
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