Asclepeion of Kos

Welcome to the Asclepeion of Kos, a site that can arguably be called 'Ground Zero' for Western medicine. As we stand on these terraced slopes, just three kilometers from Kos Town, we are in the most significant healing sanctuary…

We begin our ascent on the first level, entering through what was once the Propylaea, a monumental gateway that signaled to every pilgrim they were entering sacred ground. The ancient Greeks loved to make an entrance, and this…

As we climb the wide, dramatic steps to the second level, we reach the religious core of the Asclepeion. This was originally the highest level of the sanctuary. …

Reaching the third and final level, we stand before the ruins of what was once one of the ancient world's most magnificent structures: the Great Temple of Asclepius. Built in the 2nd century BC during the reign of King Eumenes II…

While the temples celebrate the god, the true fame of the Asclepeion lies in its connection to Hippocrates. Although the buildings we see were built after his death, they were the laboratory for his ideas. …

On the second terrace, opposite the temples, once stood a large Stoa—a covered walkway—that contained 26 rooms for patients. This was the 'ward' of the ancient hospital. …

The Asclepeion remained a functioning sanatorium for nearly a thousand years, until the devastating earthquake of 554 AD brought the great temples and colonnades crashing down. For centuries, the site was buried and forgotten,…

As we conclude our tour of the Asclepeion of Kos, we are left with a profound sense of the debt we owe to this hillside. We have seen how the ancient Greeks combined faith and science, creating a holistic environment for healing…