Epidaurus

In ancient times Epidaurus was the home of the Sancutary of Asclepius, a Greek god of medicine and healing. The Sanctuary of Asclepius became the most celebrated healing center in the ancient world, and many journeyed there to seek remedies and cures for their ailments (the sanctuary seems to have developed considerably in the 4th century B.C., during a plague at the time of the Peloponnesian War). The great number of visitors brought great wealth to the town, and the remains of several buildings can still be seen today. The most magnificient is the Theatre of Epidaurus, which is the best preserved of all Greek theatres.

	The Theatre of Epidaurus The Theatre of Epidaurus orignially consisted of 34 rows, but 21 were later added by the Romans. The theatre holds approximately 14,000 spectators, and is still used today for a summer drama festival.
	The Orchestra Pictured here is the orchestra (literally, "dancing space") of the Theatre at Epidaurus. An orchestra was usually round,containing a thynele (altar) with marble decorations. It was here where the chorus would sing, dance, and interact with the actors.
	The Acoustics The acoutics of the Theatre of Epidaurus are said to be nearly perfect. One can clearly hear a coin hit the ground while sitting in the top row of the theatre without the sound being amplified. The perfect acoustics of the theatre were long attributed to the perfect symmetry of the theatre, but a recent study published in the Journal of the Acoustics Society of America found that the limestone seats act as natural "acoustic traps." The limestone material suppresses low frequency sounds (such as chatter in the audience), while conveying high frequency sounds (such as those coming from the orchestra) towards the audience. The study conlcuded that the perfection of the acoustics was more the result of chance than it was of design.
	The Skene Pictured here are the remains of the skene (literally, "tent"), the building directly behind the stage (which was known as the proskenion). It was typcially decorated as a palace, temple, or some other distincitive type of building depending on the needs of the play. The remains at Epidaurus suggests that this skene had two levels and three doorways from which the actors could enter and exit the stage (for some plays they may have went on the second level or roof of the skene as well).
	The Parados Flanking each side of the orchestra were the paradoi (literally, "passageways"). The paradoi were the pathways through which the choros and some actors (such as messengers or those returning from abroad) made their entrances and exits. The audience also used them to either enter or exit the theatre.
	Remains of the Sanctuary of Asclepius Great prosperity came to Epidaurus during the 4th century B.C. when people flocked to visit the Sanctuary of Asclepius, allowing for a massive public building project. Although little stands today, the site once was home to a great Temple of Asclepius, a Roman Odeon, and the Abaton or Enkoimeterion- a building in which the sick, after having being purified and having made a sacrifice, slept in order to receive a cure or to receive a dream which would tell them of the proper course of treatment.

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