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Modern Description: Two kilometres east of Aghios Kírykos, the small settlement of Thérma lies at the foot of a steep and airless gorge, dotted with tamarisk and palm trees. Old-fashioned and a little frayed at the edges, this is a thermal spa frequented by Greeks from all over the country. There are several springs at Thérma—‘Asklepios', ‘Apollon', ‘Artemis', ‘Pamphilis' and ‘Kratsas'—but a number of them are now closed. All contain radium, in addition to a wide variety of mineral elements, and have been used mainly in the therapy of cardiovascular problems. These springs were well known in Antiquity and formed the nucleus of an ancient cure station and Asklepieion.
Little remains to be seen in Therma itself, but by taking a path 400m east along the coast to Chalasména Thérma, the vestiges of a later Roman and early Byzantine thermal establishment can be seen. (Take the path from the east end of Therma bay, up to the Agriólykos Pension; pass through the terrace in front of the pension, up behind its far side and continue along a footpath for 10 minutes until it begins to descend to the rocky shore.) Just before the path drops to the coast it passes (to right) a couple of chambers with small blind arches which formed part of the ancient thermal establishment. The masonry here would suggest an Early Byzantine date (c. 5th century AD); but the rock-cut channels and the square piscina of thermal water cut into the rock by the shore below, are probably much older. The complex was destroyed by earthquake, and never rebuilt.
Wikidata ID: Q65040312
Trismegistos Geo: 54120

Info: McGilchrist's Greek Islands

(From McGilchrist’s Greek Islands, © Nigel McGilchrist 2010, excerpted with his gracious permission. Click for the books)

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