Peloponnese Peninsula

       The Temple of Asklepios at Epidaurus is located within the Peloponnese region of Greece. It was erected in the fourth century BC, to hold religious ceremonies and rituals in honor of the God, Asklepios (Caton, 1898, pg. 1510).   In Greek mythology, Asklepios birth has speculated various stories and tales. The most profound tale is that he was conceived by Apollo and Coronis (Doughty, 2015, par. 6). Coronis was murdered before she gave birth by Artemis to avenge Apollo’s shame sense Coronis was rumored in having an affair (Doughty, 2015, par. 7).

      The God Asklepios is known to be the God of healing, although there were many temples and sanctuaries, the one located in Epidaurus is the one of most importance (Doughty, 2015, par. 1). The followers of this group where deemed as those who are in a cult like setting.  The healing cult is known to be have become most popular at the beginning of the fifth century BC, this lead the enlargement and enrichment of the temple (Burford, 1960, pg. 3)

       Religious practices and ceremonies included sanatoria as well as shrines, there is still debate on which dominated the earlier days (The British Medical Journal, 1898, pg. 1606). As far as the site there are two alters where natural and spirituals healing took place, the site also contained two sanctuaries, a gymnasium and a stadium. (Doughty, 2015, par. 3). The stadium was used for leisure activities such as footraces, chariot racing and many of other games hosted in the honor of Asklepios (Doughty, 2015, par. 4). According to researchers the Gymnasium was used for maintain health and recovery after being healed (Doughty, 2015, par. 4). At the temple of Asklepios, the ruins of the site still remains visible today.