The Asklepieion of Paros: On Paros, you can find an Asklepieion, a temple dedicated to Asclepius, the god of healing. The cult worship of Asclepius started around 300 BC and became increasingly popular in ancient Greece. The diseased and injured gathered in large numbers at the temple seeking cure from various illnesses.
According to tradition, the devotees would sleep within the precincts of the temple and it is believed that they had visions or dreams, which they reported to the head priest the following day. The priest prescribed a cure based on the dreams and for the most part, the cure involved a dip in the therapeutic baths, mud cures or practicing sports.
Such a temple can be seen on Paros, on the hill of Agia Anna, a short distance from Parikia. The remains of the ancient wall still exist, while the fountain basin in the center dates from a |
 |
Links |
|