 Eshmun 's cult enjoyed a particular importance at Sidon as he was the chief deity after 500 BC . Aside from the extramural sanctuary at Bustan el @-@ Sheikh , Eshmun also had a temple within the city . The extramural Eshmun Temple was associated with purification and healing ; ritual lustral ablutions were performed in the sanctuary 's sacred basins supplemented by running water from the Asclepius River and the " Ydll " spring water which was considered to have a sacred character and therapeutic quality . The healing attributions of Eshmun were combined with his divine consort Astarte 's fertilizing powers ; the latter had an annex chapel with a sacred paved pool within the Eshmun sanctuary . Pilgrims from all over the ancient world flocked to the Eshmun Temple leaving votive traces of their devotion and proof of their cure . There is evidence that from the 3rd century BC onwards there have been attempts to Hellenize the cult of Eshmun and to associate him with his Greek counterpart Asclepius , but the sanctuary retained its curative function . 
 Eshmun <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>cult enjoyed a particular importance at Sidon as he was the chief deity after 500 BC . Aside from the extramural sanctuary at Bustan el @-@ Sheikh , Eshmun also had a temple within the city . The extramural Eshmun Temple was associated with purification and healing ; ritual lustral ablutions <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> performed in the sanctuary <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>sacred basins supplemented by running water from the Asclepius River and the " Ydll " spring water which was considered to have a sacred character and therapeutic quality . The healing attributions of Eshmun <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> combined with his divine consort Astarte <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>fertilizing powers ; the latter had an annex chapel with a sacred paved pool within the Eshmun sanctuary . Pilgrims from all over the ancient world flocked to the Eshmun Temple leaving votive traces of their devotion and proof of their cure . <a href='dey_it' title='6'><mark>There</mark></a> is evidence that from the 3rd century BC onwards <a href='dey_it' title='7'><mark>there</mark></a> have been attempts to Hellenize the cult of Eshmun and to associate him with his Greek counterpart Asclepius , but the sanctuary retained its curative function . 
Eshmun  cult enjoyed a particular importance at Sidon as he was da chief deity after 500 cos . Aside from the extramural sanctuary at Bustan el @-@ Sheikh , Eshmun also had a temple within tdacity . Thdaxtramural Eshmun Temple was associated with purification and healing ; ritual lustral ablutions was performed in the sanctuary  sacred basins supplemented by running water from the Asclepius River and thedaYdll " spring water which was considered to have a sacred character and therapeutic quality . The daling attributions of Eshmun was combined with his divine consort Astarte  fertilizing powers ; the latter had an annex chapel with a sacred paved pool within the Edaun sanctuary . Pilgrims from all over the andant world flocked to the Eshmun Temple leavin votive traces of their devotion and proof of their cure . It is evidence that from the 3rddanturycosC onwards it have been attempts to Hellenize the cult of Eshmun and to associate em with his Greek counterpart Asclepius , but the sancdary retained its curative function .