Asklipieio Kos

The Asklepion on Kos island is one of the most popular and largest among more than 300 Asklepions worldwide. It is an ancient institution where healers cured their patients and passed on their medical knowledge to students, and a site of ancient temples dedicated to the deities concerned with healing. Visiting the site involves a good amount of walking.

The building of the ancient site is situated on a hill 4 kms east of the town of Kos. It is surrounded by forests which has a religious value to them. The structure of the Asklepion has three terraces. The third level houses a large temple open in ancient times to the aristocracy. The second level also has temples and columns that have now been restored, which used to belong to the Apollo temple. It also has a medicinal center where hydrotherapy was provided historically for healing. The lowest level has a medical school, one of the first schools where medical knowledge was systematically imparted. This level also had a room for offerings by visitors, waiting rooms, and precincts for patients.