We all hoped for a calm day and some more water activities in the afternoon. But it was not to be. The rainy weather over Northern Europe accelerated the winds in the Mediterranean. At 4 am, we woke up to a heavy swell and 20 knots of wind speed. We had to take the AFAET into the commercial port of Corinth - it was too dangerous to stay outside in the open. Windspeed for the afternoon is now forecasted as 30 - 35 knots.
Winds as per Windfinder this Morning
Luckily, we booked our excursion to Epidaurus the day before. We wanted to visit the world's best preserved Greek theatre and get a better understanding of how this place worked. In a nutshell, Epidaurus was a sanctuary for Asclepius, the Greek God of healing, a centre where sick people came for cure and a place for entertainment and athletic competition. It is probably best described as an ancient Club Med laced with religious ceremonies, parties and activities.
The impressive Greek Theatre - luckily the site was abandoned - nobody quarried it
Many Visitors just enjoy the Serenity of the Moment
Most impressive in Epidaurus is the big, open-air theatre that sat 6'000 people during Greek time before it was enlarged by the Romans to 14'000 seats. it is almost as big as the theatre in Syracuse which was built for a town with 250'000 inhabitants. Greece had around 5 million in the first century BC.
A few Parts of the Luxurious Accommodations have been rebuilt
Could it be that 2% of it were staying in Epidaurus at any point in time? The size of the theatre suggests a number of this magnitude. The permanent staff would be few but visitors came with slaves and their entourage. Poor people could not afford a stay in Epidaurus. The spacious hostels and bath suggest that this was a place for the upper class.
The Grand Ancient Site Entrance from the Holy Road
Most visitors today come for the theatre. We wanted to see how this place represented the thinking of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine. Sadly, we found nothing. But from texts we know that for the first time in history, medical care here followed scientific reasoning. Sacrificing to Asclepius does not harm, but people wanted to get cured. Epidaurus may thus stand for a legacy much bigger than the theatre - the beginning of the age of reasoning which gave us the life and living standard we enjoy today.
As predicted, the Sea turned rough
Forecast for the Windspeed was correct: 32.1 knots
Not surprisingly, the beaches are empty
Most importantly, the AFAET is safe in the harbour