The Castle of the Knights is situated on the right-hand side of the harbour in Kos Town and is a
most impressive monument of the medieval period. It was built by the Knights of St John in the
15th Century AD and consists of an inner and outer wall which remain in quite good order and
provides an excellent example of architecture of this time. Inside the castle you will find many
artefacts from ancient temples and around the wall you can see coats of arms which belonged
to some of the Grand Masters.
The largest single excavated section of ancient Kos is the Agora ( Ancient Town ). Facing the
side of the Museum in Eleftherias Square is the entrance to the Ancient Town, where you can
see Hellenistic remains mixed with Medieval. There are ruins of a Hellenistic temple dedicated
to Hercules, restored pillars of a small temple and the remains of a small sanctuary dedicated
to Aphrodite. The entrance to the Ancient Town is through a magnificent archway named "The
Tax Inspector's Gate". This is covered in colourful bougainvillaea in the summer months.
The Tree of Hippocrates is the plane tree under which Hippocrates taught his students the art
of medicine. Hippocrates who is considered to be the father of medicine. The tree is an oriental
plane (Platanus orientalis), the diameter of the trunk is 4.7 meters wide at its base, with its
perimeter stretches to 12 metres, making it the larget plane tree in Europe. Situated in the Platia
Platanou ("Square of the Platane"), in front of the Castle of the Knights. The current tree is
estimated to be 500 years old, but could possibly be a descendant of the original tree planted
by Hippocrates 2400 years ago. The tree has hollowed over the years and there are branches that
are supported by metal scaffolding. Two springs from the Ottoman times lie near the tree bearing
an Arabic inscription that informs the passerby of the “the water of Hippocrates.”
The Asklepeion is situated some 4km North West of Kos Town, on a pine clad hill from which the
view is breathtaking. It was a temple of worship, health and art, dating back from the 4th Century
BC. It consists of three terraces connected by a magnificent marble staircase. The first level
housed the medical school and the higher levels contained altars and temples dedicated to Asklepius
and Apollo. It was probably the most famous and best Hospital of that era with its running mineral
waters which were used in the treatments of skin disorders and spa therapy. The Asklepeion takes
its name from the Greek God of Medicine, Asklepius, and was built just after the death of
Hippocrates, whose methods were widely taught there.
The Odeum is located to the south of Kos town. This ancient Theatre was built in the 3rd Century
AD and was excavated in 1929 during the Italian occupation. Here you will find 18 marble steps of
seats which are in excellent condition. The construction of this amphitheatre was based on vaulted
arcades and inside these arcades were found some valuable and ancient statues, including the
one of Hippocrates which is now housed in the museum in Kos town.
A little below the Odeum is a restored Roman Villa. Built on Hellenistic foundations, it is a
Pompeii-type house with interior open spaces, which provided light and air for the surrounding
rooms. Devastated by the 544 AD earthquake, this house was evidently the villa of a wealthy citizen
and is arrayed around three atria with mosaic floors. The smallest one, by the ticket booth, features
panthers attacking a stag. The largest courtyard shows another panther and a tiger on opposite sides,
while the pool of the third atrium is surrounded by dolphins, and a damaged nymph riding a
horse-headed sea monster, possibly a representation of Poseidon. There is a drinking room with a
richly decorated marble floor, cisterns, columns and the most amazing wall frescoes.
The museum of Kos is situated in the center of the island's capital. The museum contains
amazing statues, reliefs, grave stelae and mosaics mainly from the Hellenistic and Roman
periods. A statue attributed to Hippocrates is also on display.
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