Programme for the Restoration and Promotion of Monuments in Ancient Epidaurus 2019

The Non-Profit Organisation “ASCLEPIADES” was founded in 2015 in order to support archaeological and historical research, the restoration of monuments in archaeological sites in the wider area of Epidaurus, as well as their study, preservation and promotion. In this context, it is implementing the three-year programme (2019-2021) for the “Restoration and Promotion of Monuments in Ancient Epidaurus”, in collaboration with the scientific team of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the support of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation.

This cultural initiative includes a series of activities aiming to preserve and highlight the cultural heritage in the area of Epidaurus:

• Conducting an excavation in the ancient city agora.
• Maintenance and mounting of the masonry mortar of the fountain and reservoir assembly.
• Digital representation and graphic restoration of the ancient theatre and its monuments.
• General reconfiguration of the surrounding area of the ancient city.
• Implementation of activities for the promotion of the ancient city and the monuments of Epidaurus.

The results of the excavations that have taken place to date in the Ancient Epidaurus area are particularly significant as they have revealed the theatre which was adjacent to a bath complex and parts of a large fountain building of the classical period (4th century BC) as well as an arcade, which during the Roman period incorporated the water supply part of the reformed fountain. The theatre and the fountain are two very important constructions for the progress of research of ancient buildings of their kind; in-between the two it is believed that there is the Temple of Asclepius, which is mentioned in ancient sources.

In the summer of 2019, with the Foundation’s support, excavations were performed south of the Roman arcade and parallel to the west side of the fountain, in order to investigate the existence of any remains of the temple of Asclepius. Furthermore, pipes irrigating the fields of the area that covered the monuments were removed, and aerial photography of the archaeological site was performed as well as 3D visualisation of the ancient theatre. The supply of a high-performance computer equipped with special software for point cloud processing and photogrammetric analysis was an essential tool for the documentation work; it will enable detailed 3D representation of the monuments in the successive stages of the programme’s progress as well as after its completion.

• Apart from the scientific personnel, 7 students of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens also participated in the 2019 excavations, as well as 3 students through the Erasmus programme; the students contributed substantially to the discovery, documentation and management of the abundant ceramic findings.

“In 2019, the Latsis Foundation commenced supporting a threeyear programme aimed at the restoration and promotion of monuments in Ancient Epidaurus. The city of Epidaurus is lacking so far an organised archaeological site. The programme envisions the emergence of a very important sector in the center, the Agora of the ancient city. Excavation works aim to unveil the Asclepius temple, to complete the discovery of already discovered monuments, while preservation and restoration works will highlight the city's ancient theater as well as other ancient buildings. By the end of the programme, the city of Ancient Epidaurus will acquire an appealing and organised archaeological site around the renowned ‘Little Theater’.”

Vassilis Lambrinoudakis

Professor Emeritus of Classical Archaeology

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens