Pergamon

Pergamon
source
Name	Pergamon
Location	Bergama, İzmir Province, Turkey
Region	Mysia
Type	Settlement
Epochs	Hellenistic to Roman
Cultures	Greek, Roman

Pergamon. An ancient Greek city in Mysia, situated near the Aegean Sea in modern-day Turkey. It served as the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon during the Hellenistic period under the Attalid dynasty, becoming a major center of Hellenistic culture, learning, and power. Its dramatic acropolis, famed for monumental architecture like the Altar of Zeus, and its immense library rivaling that of Alexandria, cemented its legacy as one of the most important cities of the ancient world.

History

The site shows evidence of settlement from the Archaic period, but Pergamon rose to prominence following the death of Alexander the Great. Its first major ruler, Philetaerus, established the Attalid dynasty in the early 3rd century BC. His successors, notably Eumenes I, Attalus I, and Eumenes II, expanded the kingdom through shrewd alliances with the Roman Republic, particularly during the Roman–Seleucid war against Antiochus III. The kingdom reached its zenith under Eumenes II, who commissioned many of its grandest buildings. With no heir, the last Attalid king, Attalus III, bequeathed the entire kingdom to Rome in 133 BC through his will, known as the Testament of Attalus III. It then became the capital of the Roman province of Asia, remaining a prosperous city through the Byzantine era before declining in the late medieval period.

Geography and major structures

Pergamon was built on a steep hill overlooking the Bakırçay River valley. The upper city, or acropolis, was the monumental core. Its most famous structure was the monumental Altar of Zeus, adorned with a magnificent frieze depicting the Gigantomachy. The site also featured a dramatically steep theatre with a capacity for 10,000 spectators, one of the steepest of the ancient world. Other significant buildings included the Temple of Trajan, the extensive gymnasium complex, the Sanctuary of Athena, and the famed Library of Pergamon, which housed an estimated 200,000 volumes. The lower city contained the Asclepeion, a renowned healing sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius that attracted patients from across the Roman Empire, including the orator Aelius Aristides.

Culture and significance

Pergamon was a preeminent center of Hellenistic art and scholarship. Its library was second only to the Library of Alexandria, leading to a legendary rivalry and the alleged invention of parchment (charta pergamena) during a Ptolemaic embargo on papyrus. The city was a major hub for sculpture, producing masterpieces like the Dying Gaul and the Gaul Killing Himself and His Wife. The Pergamene School of sculpture was celebrated for its emotional, baroque style, evident in the Altar of Zeus frieze. The Asclepeion functioned as an early medical center, where treatments included dream interpretation, hydrotherapy, and the use of theatre for psychological healing, influencing figures like the physician Galen.

Archaeological excavations

Major excavations began in the late 19th century, primarily led by German archaeologists. Carl Humann initiated work in 1878, securing the excavation rights from the Ottoman Empire and overseeing the transport of the Altar of Zeus frieze to Berlin, where it was reconstructed in the Pergamon Museum. Subsequent campaigns were conducted by the German Archaeological Institute under directors like Alexander Conze and Wilhelm Dörpfeld. These efforts uncovered the acropolis, the Asclepeion, and the Red Basilica. Ongoing work by the institute and Turkish authorities continues to reveal new insights, including suburban areas and the city's sophisticated water supply system involving pressurized pipes.

Pergamon in the modern era

The archaeological site, located near the modern town of Bergama, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its most famous artifacts, the Pergamon Altar and other sculptures, are central exhibits in Berlin's Pergamon Museum on the Museum Island, a subject of periodic cultural heritage discussions. The well-preserved ruins, including the theatre, Temple of Trajan, and Asclepeion, are major tourist destinations. The city's name endures in the medical term "pergament" (parchment) and continues to be a focal point for studies of Hellenistic urbanism, art history, and the complex relationship between the Greek world and the Roman Republic.

Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Turkey Category:World Heritage Sites in Turkey Category:Former capitals