People who were ill would go
to an Asclepion and spend at
least one night there.
They would make an offering
or sacrifice to Asclepios
Then, they would bathe in the sea
to cleanse and purify themselves.
They would sleep for one night in the
Abaton, and while sleeping, patients
were expected to be visited by the
god. Some had dreams, and others
were cured by the priests.
Priests often used snakes as part
of the treatments in the Abaton.
Ointments were rubbed into the part of the
body where symptoms occurred, sometimes
the snaked licked the sick part as well
In the Asclepion, there was a
theatre, a stadium and an Abaton.
It is irrational, but it does have
some rational aspects e.g.
ointments, exercise etc.