Epidaurus (Greek: Ἐπίδαυρος, Latin: Epidaurum) or Epidauros was an ancient Greek colony founded sometime in the 6th century BC and renamed to Epidaurum /ˌɛpɪˈdɔːrəm/ during Roman rule in 228 BC, when it was part of the province of Illyricum and later of Dalmatia. It is located at present-day Cavtat in Croatia, 15 km (9 mi) south of Dubrovnik.
Dubrovnik, historically known as Ragusa, is a city in southern Dalmatia, Croatia, by the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, a seaport and the centre of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. In 2021, its total population was 41,562. Recognizing its outstanding medieval architecture and fortifications, UNESCO inscribed the Old City of Dubrovnik as a World Heritage Site in 1979.
The city probably dates to the 7th century, when the town known as Ragusa was founded by refugees from Epidaurum (Ragusa Vecchia). It was under protectorate of the Byzantine Empire and later the sovereignty of the Republic of Venice. Between the 14th and 19th centuries, Dubrovnik ruled itself as a free state. Its prosperity was historically based on maritime trade; as the capital of the maritime Republic of Ragusa, it achieved a high level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries, as it became notable for its wealth and skilled diplomacy.