80 TRAVELLING VOICES
Ruins of the Asclepion, the ancient healing center.
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But the Asclepion is not just about the past or ruins. Every year there is a one week festival in Bergamon called Kermes. During this very popular event, from children’s theatre to traditional theatre plays, from literature and poetry readings to concerts, you can enjoy many different entertaining, and often remedial activities. Yes, you guessed it well: one of the main venues of the event is the theater of Asclepion. In addition, there is another event more closely associated with the original function of the place. Almost a half century ago the Group Psychotherapies Association was formed in Turkey. Since 1984, each year their congress is held in the ancient Asclepion with the participation of international psychodramatists and group psychotherapists from all over the world. So this amazing place has again an important role in curing people. Maybe we can even say that the Asclepion of Bergama is the oldest “functioning” healing center in the world.
the Asclepion of Bergama is the oldest “functioning” healing center in the world
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Just put on your white robe and relax - take a hot bath, a mud bath, cold bath, sunbath, or have a massage with various vegetable oils, ointments, or even wine and honey. You can run, exercise or just soothe your body while enjoying the beautiful natural environment. But it’s not just about your body: your mind is also well taken care of. You can go to the library, the theatre (to relish in poetry and music), or you can pray. You sleep in special rooms and later your dreams are interpreted by skilled doctors. It sounds like a very stylish (and very expensive) modern day spa or retreat center, but these words actually describe the ancient Asclepion, whose ruins still can be seen close to Bergama. The ancient world had several “asclepieia” dedicated to the God of medicine, Asclepius, but definitely the one in Pergamon was one of the best and well known. People arrived from all around the ancient world to seek cures using a special, holistic approach. Today, you can also travel to the majestic ruins of Asclepion, and although there are no doctors for you to discuss your dreams, you can still sit in the amphitheatre or visit the special sleeping chambers and the sacred pools.
TURKEY / Gediz - Bakircay Basins
The oldest retreat
