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Asclepius, son of Apollo and god of Medicine to the ancient Greeks, he was given the healing gift after his mother died at his birth. Dedicated to him the most celebrated healing center of the Classical world was built the 4th century BC near the small town of Epidaurus on Peloponnesus not that far from Athens.

“Asclepieion” was adorned with a multitude of buildings including temples, hospitals, baths, palaestra and people such far as Rome visited the sanctuary to ask the gods for remedies for their physical ailments. To find out the right cure, they spent a night in the “enkoimitiria”, a big sleeping hall with the company of crawling holy snakes. In their dreams, the god himself would advise them what they had to do to regain their health.

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The prosperity brought by the Asclepieion enabled Epidaurus to construct among others a theatre, the most famous building of the sanctuary. Music, drama the aesthetic sight and the unique environment surrounding the sanctuary considered as staidly parts of the healing process.

(From 4:30min and on the documentary refers to the theatre of Epidaurus)

Fame and prosperity continued through the centuries. Even after the introduction of Christianity the sanctuary at Epidaurus was still known until the mid 5th century, although as a Christian healing center.

Luckily this theatre is one of the best conserved of its kind in the world and retains its original circular “Orchestra” in contrast to most of other theatres of the period that during the Roman times suffered extensive (or less extensive) modifications.

According to the Greek traveler, geographer, and writer of the 2nd century AD Pausanias, the theater designed by Polykleitos the Younger and built the 4th century B.C. Arranged in 55 semi-circular rows and having a similar audience capacity to the theatre at Syracusa (Syracuse) in Sicily of about 14,000 its uniqueness is not about capacity but for its exceptional acoustics.

“Teatro Greco”in Syracusa, Sicily. (Image by the author) 

The unamplified spoken word from the stage reaches to all 14,000 spectators, regardless of their seating with unique clarity. How this sonic quality was achieved has been the source of academic and amateur speculation. Theories’ suggesting that prevailing winds carried sounds or masks amplified voices. Researchers of the Georgia Institute of Technology have discovered that the limestone material of the seats provide a filtering effect by suppressing low frequencies of voices (up to 500hz), such as the murmur of the crowd and the same time amplify/reflect high-frequencies (over 500hz) from the stage towards the audience.

It is still unknown whether the acoustic properties are the result of an accident or the product of advanced design. Coincidence or not, the theatre of Epidaurus ungrudgingly offers to the modern visitor unforgettable feelings. Still in use today with frequent plays and festivals the theatre resists against time and hordes of crowd. Any visitor ought to be respectful if he is interested to let next generations enjoy that marvel. Even with great delay, from now on high-heeled shoes are prohibited by law, so ladies pay attention!

See also:

Temple of Epicure Apollo