The Hippocrates Plane Tree stands in a small square in Kos Town, close to the Castle of the Knights and the Ancient Agora. Tradition links the tree to Hippocrates, the physician born on Kos, who is said to have taught his students in its shade. The tree you see today is believed to be a descendant of the original, but its wide trunk, spreading canopy and metal framework make it an impressive sight in its own right. Access is free, and the Ottoman mosque, memorial and fountains around the square add several layers of the island's past to one short stop.
Legend and the physician
Hippocrates, the Greek physician born on Kos, is traditionally linked to this spot. He is said to have taught his students in the shade of a plane tree here. The story is a legend rather than a documented event, but it has been repeated for centuries.
Travellers have recorded the tree for a long time. One of its earliest known illustrations appears in a French travel book published in 1783.
The tree today
The tree is an Oriental plane, Platanus orientalis. Its trunk measures around 12 metres in circumference, and the centre of the trunk is now hollow.
Many of the long, heavy branches are held up by metal supports. The supports were added because of age and because fungi and insects have damaged the wood. The framework is functional rather than decorative, but without it parts of the tree would likely fall across the square.
Estimates of the tree's age differ widely between sources. The current tree is believed to be a descendant of the original, or to have grown from its roots. The tree has been protected as a natural monument since 1985.
The square and its neighbours
Beside the tree is a fountain with an inscription in Ottoman script that refers to the water of Hippocrates. A second historic fountain, topped by a dome, stands nearby.
The Gazi Hasan Pasha Mosque, which locals call the Loggia Mosque, is an Ottoman-period building on the square. It is not open for worship today.
A memorial to Hadji Osman Pasha also stands here. Its inscription describes his 47 years at sea as a captain and his death on Kos. It asks visitors to recite a prayer for his soul, in line with Islamic custom. Treat the memorial with the same care you would give any place of worship or remembrance.
The entrance to Neratzia Castle is on the square, reached by a stone bridge.
Around the visit
The Ancient Agora is a short walk away and is worth combining with the tree. The Roman Odeon in the town centre has been restored, and its first nine rows of marble seating are original. The Asclepeion, a centre of healing in ancient times, lies about 4 km outside town, a distance many visitors cover by bike.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is there an entry fee for the Hippocrates Plane Tree?
No. Access to the tree and the square is free.
Is the Hippocrates Plane Tree the original tree?
Probably not. The current tree is believed to be a descendant of the original, or to have grown from its roots.
Is the Hippocrates Plane Tree wheelchair accessible?
The site has a wheelchair accessible entrance.
What is near the Hippocrates Plane Tree?
The Castle of the Knights (Neratzia Castle), the Gazi Hasan Pasha Mosque, an Ottoman-style fountain and the Ancient Agora are all close by.
