Kos is the second largest island in the Dodecanese, a string of islands close to Turkey. It has been settled since 3000 BC. What brought us here was one of Greece's most important Hellenistic sites: Asklepion.
Dedicated to the god of healing: Asklepios.
This is the most famous sanctuary, school and medical center.
The priests/doctors were practitioners of Hippocrates' famous methods.
There are three levels: each with a different purpose.
Lots of steps today.
The oldest portions date from the 4th century BC
But there are newer parts dating from Roman occupation.
It was such a peaceful spot with wonderful views, I could imagine coming there to recuperate from an illness, enjoy the baths and listen to the birds sing.
From this site we went into town to the Archaeological Museum where I took the photo of Askelpios above. It was a small museum but one thing that I learned was the amphora originated in this town. I never understood why they are pointed on the bottom but this display explains how they would be stored for shipping. Anything with a flat bottom could still tip in heavy seas but not the amphora in their resting spots.
Scenes from Kos Town.
This tree has a claim to fame. It's supposed to be Hippocrates' plane tree planted 2,400 years ago.
This tree is more like 700 years old and a descendant of the one planted eariler.
This mosque is undergoing renovations.
Ancient city ruins uncovered in a 1933 earthquake that destroyed much of this city.
The next stop will be Turkey.
2 comments:
All that antiquity reinforces that there is a whole element to Europe totally absent in the Americas. It sometimes seems that there is history on every corner.
...David, summed up what I was going to say!
Post a Comment