Asclepion
An Asklepieion ( ancient Greek Ἀσκληπιεῖον , modern Greek Ασκληπιείο ( n. Sg. ), After Asklepios , the ancient Greek god of healing, Latin Aesculapium ) is an ancient Greek sanctuary of Asklepios, usually with an attached sanatorium . About 300 of these health resorts are known. The complexes of Epidaurus , of Trikka in Thessaly , the Asklepieion of Kos and the Asklepieia of Messene and Pergamon deserve special mention .
The plant in Epidauros is the most important of its kind, it also served as a model for the construction on Kos. The Asklepieion of Trikka is of particular importance because the cult of the god Asklepios, son of Apollo and patron saint of healing, originated in Thessaly and from there conquered the entire ancient Greek world. The system on the island of Kos owes its importance to Hippocrates , probably the most important doctor of antiquity, who was born on Kos. The sanatorium was probably built after his death.
Healing sleep was practiced in the Asklepieia with an attached sanatorium . To do this, after a bath that cleansed the body and mind, the sick lay down on a bed called a Kline and waited for Asklepios to heal in a dream.
See also
literature
- Jürgen W. Riethmüller: Asklepios - sanctuaries and cults (= studies on ancient sanctuaries. Volumes 2.1 and 2.2). 2 volumes. Verlag Archeology and History, Heidelberg 2005, ISBN 3-9352-8930-8 .
- Florian Steger : Asklepios. Medicine and cult. Franz Steiner, Stuttgart 2016, ISBN 978-3-515-11447-9 .
