File:Sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus - Northwest complex and Thermae - 52042445384.jpg

English: Two large buildings located on the outer periphery of the archaeological site are referred to as the Northwest Complex. The buildings both date to the Roman period, around the early 3rd century AD. While some Roman buildings at Epidaurus re-used material from elsewhere on site, the buildings of the Northwest Complex show no signs of scavenged materials. These large complexes were well-built in stone and Roman brick with marble tiling and decoration. They were originally two-storeys high. Each building had its own entry via separate colonnaded courtyards. Both buildings also had their own multi-room bathing suites. Several rooms were heated with hypocaust flooring systems. Piping in the walls shows that the upper storeys also had heated rooms.

Several rooms were beautifully decorated with elaborate polychrome mosaic floors. The mosaics are similar to those seen in the Basilica with full-room carpet style pattern featuring in geometric and floral motifs. An inscribed statue base was found in-situ along the colonnade’s stylobate in the most eastern building. The base was used originally to display a statue of the emperor Caracalla. It was later turned upside-down and re-used for a statue of Emperor Severus Alexander. The buildings’ function has not been identified. The complex has been variously interpreted as a healing centre for terminally ill (as dying within the main Sanctuary was considered polluting), a birthing centre, a Romano-Egyptian healing cult centre, or a luxurious Imperial villa built for Caracalla.

The walls of both buildings remain standing to several metres in height showing the coursed stone and brick typical of Roman construction. The colonnaded courtyards and arrangement of the bathing suites can be seen. The mosaics remain, however they were re-covered with soil after excavations for protection and can not be seen.