21 March 2025 – Epidaurus

Miles driven today = 31

Total Miles to date = 2,151

We are now on the fourth and final peninsular of the Peloponnese, the thumb if you like, which sticks out in a more easterly direction into the Saronic Gulf.  The Argolid area is absolutely teeming with sites from antiquity and, if we were so minded, we could spend a good couple of weeks just exploring them.  But we’ll probably stick to just 2 or 3 of the highlights in order to avoid over-ruining ourselves.

The major attraction at Epidaurus is its stunning Ancient Theatre which was built between 330 and 320 BC.  Unlike many such Theatres, which were subsequently adapted by the Romans for their own entertainment, it remains largely as it was originally created.

The audience would enter the Theatre through two impressive gates situated to either side.

At full capacity it’s estimated that the Theatre could accommodate 12,000 spectators.

Considering the age of the Theatre the acoustics are just incredible.  We were fortunate enough to be up in the circle as a guy gave an a Capella rendition of a traditional Greek song.

Like Olympus, Epidaurus was created as a sanctuary and several of its buildings have been identified as being dedicated for the treatment of the sick.  In a small museum we saw these medical instruments which have been preserved.  

These Statues have all been retrieved during archeological digs at the Sanctuary.

Some are original but others are plaster casts of the finer pieces which are held in other museums in Athens and elsewhere.

This was the Katagogion.  Effectively it was a large hostel built in the 4^th Century BC to house pilgrims, patients and their companions when visiting the Sanctuary.

This is part of the grand entrance façade to the Hestiatorion, or banqueting hall.  The Romans later adapted it to include a small Odeon theatre.

The Sanctury of the Egyptian Gods was built with money donated by a Roman Senator in the 2^nd Century AD.

One of two fountains which are currently under restoration and which date from the 3^rd Century BC.

The Akoai are a complex of baths which are connected to the fountains.

This is the Abaton where patients were supposedly cured by contact with the healing Gods.

Much like Olympia, Epidaurus hosted festivals of athletics.  These were taking place here as early as the 5^th Century BC.  The pillars along the start line were part of a starting mechanism similar to that still used for horse racing today.

We continued a short distance on to the Coast and we’ve come up trumps again with our choice of home for the night.

We are at Camping Nicolas II a short way from Archaia Epidauros.  There are at least 4 campsites dotted along this beach but this appears to be the only one which is currently open.

We are looking out directly towards the Saronic Islands.  This is Agistri with the larger island of Egina beyond it.  We can also see Salamina, which is the closest reasonable sized island to Athens.

And this is Methana, which isn’t actually an island as it is attached to the mainland by a very narrow isthmus. When we walked along the beach earlier we could make out the island of Poros beyond it.  You can get there via a short foot ferry ride so we are thinking we might pop over there for an explore and a spot of lunch tomorrow.

22 March 2025 - Poros