Epidavros, Greece: Perfect Acoustics - Rick Steves’ Europe Travel Guide - Travel Bite

00:01:42
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PswU6wjhPnk

Summary

TLDRThe Sanctuary at Epidavros, located an hour east, hosts the best-preserved theater in the ancient world and once a renowned healing center in Greece. During 400 BC, it included hospitals and sick wards and was a place of miraculous cures facilitated by doctor priests serving the Greek god of medicine, Asclepios. The theater provided entertainment for pilgrims and showcased perfect acoustics, still remarkable today, accommodating over 12,000 seats. It functioned until 426 AD when closed by Christian Emperor Theodosius II who dismantled all pagan sanctuaries. Hosting plays in times of societal fear, it highlighted the role of travel in fostering understanding across different cultures.

Takeaways

  • 🎭 The Epidavros theater is an architectural marvel with unmatched acoustics.
  • 🏛️ Epidavros was a center for healing and home to the Greek god of medicine.
  • 🚑 The site housed expansive hospitals and sick wards in ancient Greece.
  • ⏳ The theater could seat over 12,000 people, emphasizing its grandeur.
  • ⚖️ Emperor Theodosius II halted its operations, marking a shift in cultural practices.
  • 🌎 Travel is depicted as a tool for gaining cultural understanding.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:01:42

    The Sanctuary at Epidavros, located east of another location, is renowned for having the best-preserved ancient theater, surrounded by the remnants of its city. In 400 BC, Epidavros was a famous healing center in Greece, featuring hospitals and sick wards where doctor-priests, inspired by Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, treated the sick. The theater, a focal point for entertainment for pilgrims from across Greece, boasted over 12,000 seats and was operational until 426 AD, when Christian Emperor Theodosius II closed it alongside other pagan sites. Remarkably, its acoustics remain perfect, showcasing its historical significance.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What is the Sanctuary at Epidavros known for?

    It is known for housing the best-preserved ancient theater and being a famous healing center in the Greek world.

  • Who was Asclepios?

    Asclepios was the Greek god of medicine, and the doctor priests at Epidavros were believed to do his work.

  • When did the theater at Epidavros close?

    It closed in 426 AD by Emperor Theodosius II.

  • How many seats did the theater at Epidavros have?

    The theater had over 12,000 seats.

  • Why is the theater at Epidavros acoustically significant?

    Due to its large size and lack of modern amplification, its acoustics had to be perfect and still are.

  • What does the speaker suggest about traveling?

    The speaker believes traveling can lead to understanding by meeting diverse people.

  • What did Emperor Theodosius II do regarding pagan sanctuaries?

    He closed them all down, including the theater at Epidavros.

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  • 00:00:03
    AN HOUR'S DRIVE EAST
  • 00:00:05
    IS THE SANCTUARY AT EPIDAVROS
  • 00:00:06
    WITH THE BEST-PRESERVED THEATER IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
  • 00:00:09
    SURROUNDED BY THE SCANT REMAINS OF ITS CITY.
  • 00:00:14
    IN 400 BC, EPIDAVROS, WITH A SPRAWLING COMPLEX
  • 00:00:17
    OF HOSPITALS AND SICK WARDS,
  • 00:00:18
    WAS THE MOST FAMOUS HEALING CENTER
  • 00:00:21
    IN THE GREEK WORLD.
  • 00:00:29
    IT WAS A PLACE OF MIRACULOUS CURES
  • 00:00:31
    AND COMFORTABLE BENCHES WHERE THE SICK CAME
  • 00:00:33
    TO BE TREATED BY DOCTOR PRIESTS DOING THE WORK
  • 00:00:36
    OF ASCLEPIOS, THE GREEK GOD OF MEDICINE.
  • 00:00:39
    THE HIGHLIGHT OF EPIDAVROS IS ITS FINE THEATER,
  • 00:00:41
    WHICH PROVIDED ENTERTAINMENT FOR THOSE WHO MADE
  • 00:00:44
    THE PILGRIMAGE HERE FROM ALL OVER GREECE.
  • 00:00:46
    IT CONTINUED TO OPERATE UNTIL 426 AD,
  • 00:00:51
    WHEN EMPEROR THEODOSIUS II, WHO WAS A CHRISTIAN,
  • 00:00:53
    CLOSED IT DOWN ALONG WITH ALL OTHER PAGAN SANCTUARIES.
  • 00:00:58
    GIVEN ITS SIZE, OVER 12,000 SEATS,
  • 00:01:00
    AND OBVIOUS LACK OF MODERN AMPLIFICATION,
  • 00:01:03
    THE ACOUSTICS NEEDED TO BE PERFECT,
  • 00:01:06
    AND THEY STILL ARE.
  • 00:01:07
    FRIENDS, GREEKS, WAYFARERS.
  • 00:01:10
    IN THESE TIMES OF DISCORD,
  • 00:01:13
    FEAR IS RAMPANT IN OUR SOCIETY.
  • 00:01:15
    I CONTEND THAT THE FLIP SIDE OF FEAR
  • 00:01:18
    IS UNDERSTANDING, AND THOSE WHO TRAVEL
  • 00:01:21
    WILL REAP GREAT UNDERSTANDING BY MEETING PEOPLE
  • 00:01:24
    WHO FIND OTHER TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT
  • 00:01:27
    AND GOD-GIVEN.
  • 00:01:28
    [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Tags
  • Epidavros
  • ancient theater
  • Asclepios
  • healing center
  • Greek medicine
  • acoustics
  • pagan sanctuaries
  • Theodosius II