What happens when a Greek healing sanctuary meets the power of Rome?
For centuries, the Asclepieion of Epidaurus stood as the pinnacle of Greek medicine and religious healing. However, by the 2nd century BCE, Greece had fallen under Roman rule, bringing significant changes to its cultural and religious sites.
The Romans, known for their engineering expertise and love of grand architecture, expanded and transformed the sanctuary, adapting it to fit their imperial vision while preserving the revered traditions of Asclepius.
How did the Romans influence the Asclepieion’s architecture, healing practices, and purpose? And how did these changes reflect Rome’s approach to Greek heritage?
How the Sanctuary Changed Under Roman Rule
Asclepieion
Expansion and Renovation of Existing Structures
Under Roman influence, the Asclepieion underwent a period of expansion and renovation. While the sanctuary retained its Greek identity, the Romans introduced structural upgrades and new facilities to accommodate a growing number of visitors, including wealthy Roman elites.
Key changes included:
Enhancements to the Temple of Asclepius: The Romans preserved the core Greek religious traditions but added larger altars and decorative elements.
Expansion of the Katagogion (Guesthouse):
More luxurious accommodations to suit wealthy Roman visitors and officials.
Private rooms with better amenities, reflecting Roman preferences for comfort.
Improved infrastructure:
Paved roads leading to the sanctuary, making travel easier for Roman elites.
Better drainage and water supply systems, reflecting Rome’s emphasis on sanitation.
The sanctuary became more accessible, comfortable, and suited to Rome’s imperial vision, ensuring it remained a popular pilgrimage site.
Influence on Healing Practices
Asclepieion
While Greek healing traditions remained central, the Romans expanded medical practices by integrating military and public health innovations. The Asclepieion continued to offer:
Herbal remedies for common ailments.
Incubation sleep (enkoimesis), where patients received divine visions.
Physical therapy through exercise in the gymnasium and stadium.
However, the Romans introduced:
New medical techniques, particularly in surgery and battlefield medicine.
A stronger emphasis on hygiene, believing that disease spread through unclean conditions.
Increased use of hydrotherapy, influenced by Roman bathhouses.
The blend of Greek spiritual healing and Roman medical advancements made the Asclepieion a premier wellness center for the Mediterranean elite.
The Introduction of Roman Architectural Features
One of the most visible changes in the Asclepieion was the integration of Roman architectural styles, especially in:
The Baths and Hydrotherapy Pools
Roman-style thermal baths were added, featuring heated water and more structured bathing rituals.
These baths were used for relaxation, detoxification, and muscle recovery.
The Theater of Epidaurus
Although originally Greek, the Romans expanded and maintained the theater, ensuring entertainment remained part of the healing experience.
Roman-style ornamental features and modifications were introduced.
Monumental Arches and Colonnades
The Romans added elaborate colonnades to the sanctuary, giving it a more imperial look.
Marble inscriptions honoring Roman patrons and emperors appeared, showing that Roman elites were funding the site’s upkeep.
The sanctuary remained a sacred Greek site but evolved into a more Romanized healing complex, blending two cultures in its design and function.
Roman Patronage and the Changing Role of the Sanctuary
Asclepieion
During the Roman Imperial period, the Asclepieion attracted not just Greeks but also Roman senators, governors, and military officers seeking divine healing.
Key changes in its role included:
Imperial sponsorship:
Roman emperors and wealthy elites provided funding for maintenance and expansion.
Temples and altars dedicated to Roman deities appeared alongside those of Asclepius.
The Asclepieion as a Wellness Retreat:
While originally focused on divine healing and miracles, the sanctuary became a destination for relaxation and luxury treatments.
Roman aristocrats visited for spa-like hydrotherapy, diet treatments, and exercise regimens.
An Increase in Pilgrimage Tourism:
The sanctuary became a prestigious location, much like the sanctuary of Delphi or Olympia.
More visitors meant a boost in local economy, benefiting surrounding towns.
Though still a sacred space, the Asclepieion increasingly catered to elite Roman tastes, shifting its role beyond just faith-based healing.
The Decline of the Asclepieion in Late Antiquity
The fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of Christianity led to the gradual decline of the Asclepieion.
5th century CE:
As Christianity spread, pagan healing sanctuaries were abandoned or repurposed.
Emperor Theodosius banned pagan practices, leading to the closure of many Asclepieia.
Transformation of Healing Practices:
Healing transitioned to Christian saints, monasteries, and holy relics.
Some elements of Greek and Roman medicine were preserved in Byzantine hospitals.
By the Middle Ages, the Asclepieion had fallen into ruin, but its legacy of holistic healing lived on.
A Blended Legacy of Greek and Roman Healing
Under Roman rule, the Asclepieion of Epidaurus expanded in scale and sophistication, incorporating:
Roman engineering in water management and bathhouses.
A stronger emphasis on sanitation and hygiene.
A fusion of Greek religious healing with Roman medical advancements.
An evolution from a sacred healing site to an elite wellness retreat.
Though the sanctuary eventually declined, its fusion of Greek and Roman healing traditions shaped future medical practices, influencing both Byzantine and Western medicine.
