Buraselis Kostas. Kos Between Hellenism and Rome: Studies on the Political, Institutional, and Social History of Kos

American Philosophical Society, 2001. — 193 p.The Island Kos has often inspired interesting case studies on its ancient Aegean context. This may be explained thematically first by the island's belonging to that eastern Aegean chain of islands from Lemnos in the north to Rhodes in the south that form the "nearest bridge" to Asia Minor. These islands' fortunes have always depended on their relations to-and the strategic, political and economic balance between Europe and the Asiatic coast opposite. In addition, he connection of Kos with the cult of Asklepios and the tradition of Hippokrates has helped the island acquire in the Hellenistic period a special aura of holiness and medical wisdom, thus effectively claiming a relative inviolability and consequent protection rom external vicissitudes. Nevertheless, Rome's involvement, gradual predominance, and subsequent domination n the Greek East rendered also the fortunes and status of Kos totally dependent on its relations of the new suzerain.