PERGAMON (Pergamum)

The ancient remains are spread over a huge area - this was the major city of northwest Anatolia in Hellenistic and Roman times. Much of the Roman city now lies under the modern city of Bergama, but the main site now visible lies on the side of a mountain. The summit is now reached by cable car! Given the vertical nature of the site, it would be nice if a gradual descent could be made, exiting at the bottom of the mountain. Whilst such an exit exists, visitors generally don't seem to be able to use it. That means that to see the remains on the lower slopes, a walk down to them is required, followed by hard climb back up to the cable car.

Away from the main site is the Kizil Avlu, or 'Red Court', a temple dedicated to Serapis and Isis, but later converted to a church, which ensured its survival. Also nearby is the Asklepieion, a major health centre dedicated to the god Asklepios.

The acropolis hill of Pergamon lies between two rivers, the Cetius to the east and the Selinus to the west, and affords incredible views over the plain - its defensive advantages are clear. Prehistoric activity on the hill is indicated by artefacts found here, but evidence for an early settlement remains elusive. It was not until Hellenistic times that the city grew in importance and status.

After the death of Alexander the Great, the city acquired prominence when his general Lysimachus chose its acropolis as a stronghold for his treasure, which he entrusted to the governor, Philetaeros. On the death of Lysimachus, Philetaeros became the ruler of Mysia and Troas. His nephew Eumenes I (reigned 263-241 BC) developed the resources and prosperity of the kingdom. Eumenes" cousin and successor, Attalus I Soter, (reigned 241-197 BC), gained sway over north-west Asia Minor through his defeats of the Galatians and the Seleucid king Antiochus III. He also allied himself with Rome.

Attalus made Pergamon the artistic and literary centre of Asia Minor. His son Eumenes II continued the pro-Roman policy of his father and extended his rule over most of western Anatolia. He built the monumental Altar of Zeus in gratitude for his victory over the Gauls, and developed the library that had been founded by his father. The importance of Pergamon continued under Attalus II Philadelphus (reigned c. 160 -138 BC), and Attalus III Philometor (reigned 138-133 BC). The latter bequeathed his kingdom to the Romans, under whose control Pergamum remained one of the chief cities of Asia Minor and the capital of the Roman province of Asia. Pergamon was cited in the book of Revelation as one of the seven churches of Asia. According to Christian tradition, the first bishop of Pergamon, Antipas, was martyred there in c. 92 A.D. (Revelation 2:13)

The Altar of Zeus was found by German scholars in the nineteenth century, dismantled and fragmentary. The massive fragments were taken to Berlin and reconstructed, and the reconstruction today is the centre-piece of the Pergamon Museum, so little remains to be seen on the site.

The Library ruins. Ruputedly containing 200,000 parchment scrolls, many went to its rival library in Alexandria as part of Mark Antony's wedding gift to Cleopatra in 41 B.C.

The Temple of Trajan in the market-place. Completed during the reign of Hadrian (124-138 A.D.)

Part of the city walls.

Part of the city walls.

The Theatre, constructed in the 3rd century B.C., has 80 rows of seats and a capacity of 10,000.

A down-hill view of the Temple of Dionysus.

                              Beneath the Stoa.

The great temple of the Egyptian gods Isis and/or Serapis, known today as the "Red Basilica", about one kilometer south of the Acropolis. It consists of a main building and two round towers within a large temenos or sacred area. In the first century AD, the Christian Church at Pergamon inside the main building of the Red Basilica was one of the Seven Churches to which the Book of Revelation was addressed (Revelation 2:12).

Red Basilica.

Three kilometers south of the Acropolis, down in the valley, is the Sanctuary of Asclepius (also known as the Asclepieion), the god of healing. In this place people with health problems could bathe in the water of the sacred spring, and in the patients' dreams Asclepius would appear in a vision to tell them how to cure their illness.

Asclepieion - Sacred Way.
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