E00417: The Piacenza Pilgrim records his visit to the Baths of *Elijah (Old Testament prophet, S00217) near Gadara (Palestine), where incubation is practised and healings occur. Account of an anonymous pilgrim, written in Latin, probably in Placentia (northern Italy), c. 570.

Pilgrim of Piacenza, Itinerarium 7

First recension
In ista parte ciuitate ad milia tria sunt aquas calidas, quae appellantur termas Heliae, ubi leprosi mundantur, qui e xenodochio habent de publicum delicias. Hora uespertina inundantur termae. Ante ipsum clibanum aquae est solius grandis, qui dum impletus fuerit, clauduntur omnia ostia, et per posticum mittuntur intus cum luminaria et incensum et sedent in illo solio tota nocte, et dum soporati fuerint, uidet ille, qui curandus est, aliquam uisionem, et dum eam recitarit, abstinentur ipsae termae septem diebus et intra septem dies mundatur.

'On that side of Jordan, three miles from the city [of Gadara] there are hot springs called the Baths of Elijah. Lepers are cleansed there, and have their meals from the hospice there at public expense. The baths fill in the evening. In front of the basin is a large tank. When it is full, all the gates are closed, and they are sent in through a small door with lights and incense, and sit in the tank all night. They fall asleep, and the person who is going to be cured sees a vision. When he has told it the baths remain closed for a week. In one week he is cleansed.'

The second recension follows the text of the first without important modifications.


Text: Geyer 1898, 163 and 198. Translation: Wilkinson 2002, 133, lightly modified.