B.C. Founded in the 4th century by the god of health Asklepios and known as the world's first psychiatric hospital, Asclepion is located in the Pergamon region. Asclepion is the most important medical center of the period with its theatre, library, bathing pools, sacred fountain, underground tunnel, and sleeping rooms. With the increasing interest in the Roman Period, it hosted many people from other cities for treatment purposes.

The fact that the Asclepion is on the slope of Madra Mountain due to its location and that the sanctuaries are in a structure that prevents the airflow left a very positive effect on the patients.

In Pergamon Asclepion, an approach was applied to make the patient feel good with music and healing waters in the treatment. These; Treatment methods such as SPA (health from water), climatotherapy (climate therapy), aqua therapy (water therapy), aromatherapy (treatment with herbs), diet therapy, hypnotherapy (sleep therapy), musicotherapy, psychotherapy, and rest have been used.

All precautions were taken against the death of the patients who were treated in the Asclepion, which was considered a holy place. Patients coming from far away places were first welcomed at the big door, examined, and taken in if treatment was possible. Patients who were difficult to treat were not allowed in, and no one was allowed to die in the sanctuary.

The first important point for the patients admitted to Asclepion was cleanliness. It was necessary to appear clean in the presence of the god in an area that was defined as sacred. Patients who took care of their cleanliness were sacred to them.

From the entrance door, music, light, and water sounds would be accompanied to be announced to all rooms. The most important component, which is called the main element of the treatment and thought to be cured by melodies, was music. Unfortunately, this type of music or melody listened to at that time is not known today.

Besides the healing and holy waters, the most important factor in the treatment was the sleeping rooms. After meeting their bathing needs and taking their medicines, the guests would pass through the flowing tunnel and reach the "Valley of Dreams".

Theater plays and concerts were given in the theater in the Asklepion to keep the morale of the patients high. Asclepion theater has a capacity of 4 thousand people. The purpose of the theater, especially using white marble, was known as providing a more spacious and dazzling environment.

You can make an online reservation with our Daily Pergamon Tour options for transportation to the Asclepion Ancient City. If you are going to stay in the Bergama region, you can travel comfortably with Izmir Bergama Transfer.