Mythology
The water source of the Ipatis Baths upwelling of large earthquake after 427 b.C. The ancients had a very early point to the healing properties of hot springs in general. Already in mythology relates that Hercules had his power in that bathed in the waters of neighboring Thermopylae, for the sake of flow out did Hephaestus, at the request of Athena. From descriptions that happened around the middle of last century, there is evidence that the source used since antiquity. Deep inside the tank survived the source rocks placed incrementally, suggesting that there was no ladder to descend bathers. They also found marble slabs inscribed with ancient letters. One of them wrote: «Ληθην τ΄οπισθεν ος ιθι ελευσεται», that "whoever comes here forgets."
After Ottoman Empire
After liberation from the Turkish yoke, the various spas in Greece found derelict. The government Kapodistrias interested directly to the spas and 1830 brought foreign scholars. In 1833, the archifarmakopoios and University Professor Otto X. Lanterer analyzes made water sources of Ipatis Baths.
In Baths Patratziki such as the Turks say, there was in the early years of the Greek Kingdom, a lake with a circumference of 150 meters, where gushing in the thermal waters, which gathered within this.
After 1860 was cleared tank, housed in sheet metal and built about 20 wooden huts that served as dressing rooms and accommodation bathers. Planted several almond trees, pines and cypresses.
In 1870 the hot spring passed into the hands of the great businessman and MP D. Hatziskos, who also built the first three stone houses of three rooms each.
Description of doctor in 1879, we know that sufferers did bath in the lake. Those who could not swim, stayed away from the crater, in the shallows. Sufferers bathed in the following order: one hour men, women one hour and at the end lepers.
Hydrotherapy combined with "piosimo" healing water: usually recommends three glasses a day, but many swimmers drank large quantities, reaching two or three kilos a day, which usually bring belching, constipation and frequent urination. But the number of baths was not certain. Often made 25-30 baths and some reached to 40.
Shortly after been brought into the tank and placed into this wooden rack for safety of bathers, because some had drowned in the deep. Now descend stairs and made their bath seated on the rack. Periodically emptied the tank, removing a mobile barrier. The time of discharge, given the opportunity swimmers to descend into the reservoir and drink water that came out of a hole in the middle of the grill or sit and inhale the gases that emerge. And then took the precaution of removing the source of those suffering from leprosy. This made bath in space, been brought into special 300 meters from the source, where they collected loutroneri, coming from the tank with a groove.
A few years later built the first three hotels: "Iti", "Othris" and "Sperheios».
In 1897 he was given new impetus. Important buildings were built and constructed in Hydrotherapy, which included 42 baths, two tanks LOUSOI group and auxiliary treatment facilities.
Became the hotel "Fthiotis" with two annexes. Built theater, agora, church, post office, etc. Dentrofyteftike surrounding area, constructed Groves and generally created an appearance of actual spa. Late last century bathers was 1.000 per year and growing steadily.
With the passage of time and due to developments created the need for new organization and a new spa. And indeed, built a model with completely modern spa facilities, which went into operation in 1960.
Thus, the hot spring of Baths High again got that special place among the sources of our country that is worthy of its reputation and the value of thermal waters.
Source: www.lamia.gr
