Amphiareion Amfiarío

In front of the temple at Amphiáreion, beside the sacred spring, is the broad altar, which according to Pausanias was dedicated to Amphiaraos and numerous other divinities.

Near the theater at the Amphiáreion are the remains of Roman baths. On the other side of the little stream are a klepsydra (water-clock) and the remains of houses.

In the depths of the Amphiáreion, beyond some statue bases of the Roman period, is the incubation hall in which worshippers seeking a cure slept. Farther along is the 360ft/110m long incubation hall (A.D. fourth century), in which worshippers seeking a cure slept, wrapped in the skin of a ram which they had sacrificed at the altar. The hall is divided into two aisles by a row of 17 Ionic columns and has 41 Doric columns along the exterior. Against the rear wall are stone benches. The two corner rooms were probably meant for women.

The small museum at Amphiáreion contains interesting local finds.

On the coast, 6km/4mi northwest of the Amphiareion, lies the pretty little fishing port of Oropós or Skála Oropoú, with some attractive tavernas on the seafront.

A path runs downhill from the entrance of the Amphiareion. Immediately on the right is the temple of Amphiaraos (fourth or third century B.C.). The front of the temple has six Doric columns between antae, which were in the form of half-columns. The interior is divided into three aisles by two rows of five columns. A porch built on to the rear of the temple had a second door leading to the priests' lodgings. Against the rear wall of the naos can be seen the base for the cult image; in the center is an offerings table. In front of the temple, beside the sacred spring, is the Great Altar, which according to Pausanias was dedicated to Amphiaraos and numerous other divinities. Below the altar is a well, in which large numbers of coins - votive offerings from people who had been cured - were found.

Behind the Amphiáreion incubation hall is the theater, with five marble seats of honor around the orchestra and a well-preserved stage building. The auditorium is overgrown with pines. In this theater musical contests were held every five years from 332 B.C. onwards. Farther down the stream are the remains of Roman baths. On the far side of the stream are a clepsydra (water-clock) and remains of houses and other installations. There is a small museum displaying interesting local finds.