The Temples and Ritual of Asklepios at Epidauros and Athens: Two Lectures Delivered at the Royal Institution of Great Britain (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Richard Caton

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 026683020X ISBN 13: 9780266830207

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Explore the ancient healing cults of Epidauros and Athens, where myth and medicine met in ritual and daily life.

This two-lecture work blends archaeology, inscriptions, and temple rituals to illuminate how the Asklepieia cared for the sick, celebrated the gods, and organized a complex staff of priests, nurses, and attendants.

From the priestly hierarchy and the role of sacred serpents and dogs to the daily routines of bath, purification, and dream-guided cures, the book lays out how suppliants found shelter, care, and hope. It also surveys the great Megala Asklepieia festivals, architectural details, and the enduring connections between ancient healing rites and later medical traditions.

• How a temple economy, hostels, and festivals shaped patient care
• The daily and nightly rituals shaping prayer, sacrifice, and dreams
• The roles of priests, torch-bearers, physicians, nurses, and sacred attendants
• Evidence from inscriptions and architectural remains that anchor the history

Ideal for readers interested in ancient medicine, religious ritual, and the archaeology of healing.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 026683020X
• ISBN 13: 9780266830207
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 63