Najstariji i najistaknutiji asklepeion (iscjeliteljski hram) iz 1. stoljeća p.n.e. nalazio se u Trikali. Smatra
se da ju Grčkoj i grčkim kolonijama bilo oko 185 takvih hramova. Djelovali kao središta medicinskih
savjeta, prognoze i liječenja.
Asklepijev je kult postao vrlo popularan i hodočasnici su hrlili u njegove iscjeljiteljske hramove (asklepione) kako bi se izliječili od svojih bolesti. Nakon obrednog čišćenja slijedilo bi prinošenje ili žrtva bogu, a molitelj bi zatim proveo noć u najsvetijem dijelu svetišta – abatonu. U tim svetištima pacijenti bi ulazili u stanje induciranog sna poznatog kao „enkoimesis“. Svi snovi ili vizije bili bi prijavljeni svećeniku koji bi nakon tumačenja propisao odgovarajuću terapiju.
Neki iscjeliteljski hramovi također su koristili svete pse da ližu rane bolesnih molitelja.
U čast Eskulapu, posebna vrsta neotrovne zmije često se koristila u ritualima iscjeljivanja, a te su se zmije — Eskulapove zmije — slobodno vrzmale po podu u spavaonicama gdje su spavali bolesni i ozlijeđeni.
Asklepijev hram u Pergamu imao je izvor koji je tekao u podzemnu prostoriju u hramu. Ljudi su dolazili piti vodu i kupati se u njoj jer se vjerovalo da ima ljekovita svojstva. Blatne kupke i topli čajevi poput kamilice koristili su se za njihovo smirivanje ili čaj od paprene metvice za ublažavanje glavobolje, što je i danas kućni lijek koji mnogi koriste. Temelji ovog hrama postoje i danas, a ljekovita voda i dalje izvire.
The most ancient and the most prominent asclepeion (healing temple) of the 1st century BC, was situated in Trikala. It is believed that there were about 185 such temples in Greece and Greek colonies. They functioned as centers of medical advice, prognosis, and healing.
The cult of Asclepius grew very popular and pilgrims flocked to his healing temples (asclepieon) to be cured of their ills.
Ritual purification would be followed by offerings or sacrifices to the god, and the supplicant would then spend the night in the holiest part of the sanctuary– the abaton. At these shrines, patients would enter a dream-like state of induced sleep known as “enkoimesis”. Any dreams or visions would be reported to a priest who would prescribe the appropriate therapy after its interpretation.
Some healing temples also used sacred dogs to lick the wounds of sick petitioners.
In honor of Asclepius, a particular type of non-venomous snake was often used in healing rituals, and these snakes— the Aesculapian Snakes— slithered around freely on the floor in dormitories where the sick and injured slept.
The Temple of Asclepius in Pergamum had a spring that flowed down into an underground room in the Temple. People would come to drink the waters and to bathe in them because they were believed to have medicinal properties. Mud baths and hot teas such as chamomile were used to calm them or peppermint tea to soothe their headaches, which is still a home remedy used by many today. The foundations of this temple still exist today, and the healing water still springs up.
Asklepijev je kult postao vrlo popularan i hodočasnici su hrlili u njegove iscjeljiteljske hramove (asklepione) kako bi se izliječili od svojih bolesti. Nakon obrednog čišćenja slijedilo bi prinošenje ili žrtva bogu, a molitelj bi zatim proveo noć u najsvetijem dijelu svetišta – abatonu. U tim svetištima pacijenti bi ulazili u stanje induciranog sna poznatog kao „enkoimesis“. Svi snovi ili vizije bili bi prijavljeni svećeniku koji bi nakon tumačenja propisao odgovarajuću terapiju.
Neki iscjeliteljski hramovi također su koristili svete pse da ližu rane bolesnih molitelja.
U čast Eskulapu, posebna vrsta neotrovne zmije često se koristila u ritualima iscjeljivanja, a te su se zmije — Eskulapove zmije — slobodno vrzmale po podu u spavaonicama gdje su spavali bolesni i ozlijeđeni.
Asklepijev hram u Pergamu imao je izvor koji je tekao u podzemnu prostoriju u hramu. Ljudi su dolazili piti vodu i kupati se u njoj jer se vjerovalo da ima ljekovita svojstva. Blatne kupke i topli čajevi poput kamilice koristili su se za njihovo smirivanje ili čaj od paprene metvice za ublažavanje glavobolje, što je i danas kućni lijek koji mnogi koriste. Temelji ovog hrama postoje i danas, a ljekovita voda i dalje izvire.
The most ancient and the most prominent asclepeion (healing temple) of the 1st century BC, was situated in Trikala. It is believed that there were about 185 such temples in Greece and Greek colonies. They functioned as centers of medical advice, prognosis, and healing.
The cult of Asclepius grew very popular and pilgrims flocked to his healing temples (asclepieon) to be cured of their ills.
Ritual purification would be followed by offerings or sacrifices to the god, and the supplicant would then spend the night in the holiest part of the sanctuary– the abaton. At these shrines, patients would enter a dream-like state of induced sleep known as “enkoimesis”. Any dreams or visions would be reported to a priest who would prescribe the appropriate therapy after its interpretation.
Some healing temples also used sacred dogs to lick the wounds of sick petitioners.
In honor of Asclepius, a particular type of non-venomous snake was often used in healing rituals, and these snakes— the Aesculapian Snakes— slithered around freely on the floor in dormitories where the sick and injured slept.
The Temple of Asclepius in Pergamum had a spring that flowed down into an underground room in the Temple. People would come to drink the waters and to bathe in them because they were believed to have medicinal properties. Mud baths and hot teas such as chamomile were used to calm them or peppermint tea to soothe their headaches, which is still a home remedy used by many today. The foundations of this temple still exist today, and the healing water still springs up.