Introduction
Pergamon Ancient City was described as “the most famous and venerable city of Asia Minor” by the writer and philosopher Pliny the Elder. The area derived its name from “perg” or “berg” meaning “fortress” or “fortified place.”
Continuously inhabited, Pergamon Ancient City hosted many civilizations and became a center of health, science, culture, and religion for thousands of years. Like Ephesus, Pergamon is one of the most important ancient settlements of the Aegean region.
In this article, we would like to provide brief information about the history and key attractions of Pergamon Ancient City, how to get there, and how much it costs to enter the archaeological site.
Table of Contents
Historical Background
There are traces of settlement dating back to prehistoric times, on the hill where Pergamon Ancient City was founded, dating back to the 7th-6th and 5th centuries BC.
In 283 BC, Philetairos founded his kingdom, which remained a powerful kingdom in its region in terms of politics, economy, and culture for 150 years.
The city came under Roman rule upon the will of Attalos III, one of the kings of Pergamon. Starting in the 3rd century BC, Pergamon began to take shape under the influence of Christianity. It maintained its importance by hosting one of the seven churches of Anatolia during the Byzantine Period. In the 8th century AD, Pergamon was exposed to Arab raids. In 1345, the Ottomans annexed the lands, and the Turkish period began in the city.
Key Attractions
Asklepion of Pergamon
Asklepion of Pergamon, one of the ancient world’s three most critical healing centers, started its activities in the 4th century BC. As an all-inclusive health complex, there was a library, sacred fountain, sleeping rooms, and shops selling medicinal herbs for the patients in the Asclepion.
Like Hippocrates, Galen was a well-known doctor of the ancient world. He was born in 129 AD in Pergamon and received education in different cities, such as Alexandria. In Pergamon Asklepion, he cured the gladiators who were injured during the shows at the theater. That’s why Galen specialized in anatomy and orthopedics. According to a rumor, Emperor Marcus Aurelius gave him gold, which was written as “from the emperor of Rome to the emperor of physicians.”
Library of Pergamon
Thanks to the interest of the kings of Pergamon in collecting books, the Library of Pergamon became one of the two most extensive libraries of the ancient world, along with the Library of Alexandria. There were more than 170000 volumes of books in the library. Seeing such a powerful source as a rival, Egypt banned the export of papyrus. The people of Pergamon then used the old method used by the Ionians, thinning animal skins and turning them into books. This type of paper discovered was called parchment (pergamene paper). This new kind of paper made finding resources in the Pergamon Library easier because it was stacked like a book, not a roll, unlike papyrus.
Marcus Antonius came to Pergamon in the 1st century BC and took the library to Alexandria to establish good relations with Cleopatra. Unfortunately, the Library of Alexandria was burned in the 7th century AD. Although the books were destroyed, the information was not lost, as they were translated into Arabic and Persian, and these sources were influential in the Arab enlightenment in the 9th, 10th, and 11th centuries.
Temple of Athena
The temple of Athena is located next to the library, overlooking the theater. Perhaps it is not a coincidence that there is a cult area for Athena next to the library, as she is also the goddess of learning and science. Another reason Athena is so important to the people of Pergamon is that she is the patron goddess of Telephos, the founding hero of the city. The influence of Athens on the town cannot be ignored when the people of Pergamon attached so much importance to Athena.
The building was constructed in the 3rd century BC in the Doric style using andesite.
Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to see the whole temple in situ today. Some of the finds from the temple are in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin because the German delegation carried out excavations in the 1870s and took the artifacts according to the agreement.
Theater of Pergamon
The Theater of Pergamon is one of the most magnificent ones among its peers. You can pass through a tunnel from the Temple of Athena to the theater area. Built during the reign of Eumenes II, in the 2nd century BC, the theater has a seating capacity of 10000 people.
Hellenistic theaters typically nestle against a natural slope, offering a horseshoe-shaped cavea with a picturesque view. The Theater of Pergamon, however, stands out for being built on the world’s steepest slope. Another unique aspect is the temporary construction of the scene, preserving the view and the Temple of Dionysos. It’s a one-of-a-kind example in the world of a temporary scene.
Temple of Dionysos
Located next to it, the Temple of Dionysos was designed together with the theater. The local stone andesite was used in its construction. Unfortunately, the temple was destroyed after a fire and was repaired during the Roman period. With this restoration, Roman architecture incorporated marble into the structure. The structure was restored by Emperor Caracalla, who called himself the “new Dionysus.”
Altar of Zeus
The Pergamon Kings Cult Sanctuary, also known as the Altar of Zeus, surpasses the temples dedicated to Athena and Dionysos in size. Constructed in the 2nd century BC, this structure’s purpose is shrouded in mystery. Some believe it was built to celebrate the Pergamons’ victory over the Galatians, while others speculate it was a gesture of gratitude to the gods for saving Eumenes from an assassination attempt in Delphi.
This altar, built as a horseshoe-shaped Ionic altar, is the first and only altar constructed independently of the temples. Since the reliefs depict almost all Greek gods, it is thought to be inspired by Hesiod’s work Theogony. The Altar of Zeus is at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin today.
Temple of Demeter
The Temple of Demeter has columns made in the Aeolian type, which is rarer than other architectural styles. The sitting area you can see today was used during the Eleusinian mystery cults.
According to research, the cult of Demeter in Pergamon dates back to the 4th century BC. This Mother Goddess cult was even before the Asclepius cult. It was called “meter,” the ancient name for “mother.” This temple also became a place of worship for the Roman Imperial cult after Emperor Augustus.
Gymnasion
The gymnasion, located to the east of the Temple of Demeter, is the largest in the Hellenistic world. Here, lessons in philosophy, music, and wrestling were given, and sports competitions were held.
Red Basilica
After Attalos III bequeathed Pergamon to Rome, the Roman presence began in Anatolia. Unlike the usual andesite and marble structure in Pergamon buildings, Roman-made stamped fire brick was chosen as the primary construction material, which gave the building its name. We see the reflection of a construction method frequently used in Rome on Pergamon in the 2nd century AD, during the reign of Emperor Hadrian.
Red Basilica is the largest known sanctuary in Anatolia, created for the Egyptian gods. Due to Marcus Antonius’ relationship with Cleopatra, Rome’s bond with Egypt strengthened, and the Red Basilica was dedicated to the Egyptian deity Serapis. For this reason, Egyptian-style statues, such as that of the lion-headed war goddess Sekhmet, can be seen in the area.
There are not only works of Egyptian architecture but also works of ancient Greek architecture in this area. For example, the Caryatids and Atlantes, which are beautiful columns, can be shown as examples of Greek-style architecture.
Pergamon Amphitheater
Apart from the Hellenistic theater, Pergamon also has a Roman-style amphitheater. With a capacity of over 25,000 people, the Pergamon Amphitheater hosted many gladiator and wild animal fights and naval combats.
Visiting Tips
Pergamon Ancient City is open to visitors every day from 08:30 AM to 8:00 PM. The entrance fee is different for each part of the city:
| Place | Entrance Fee |
|---|---|
| Pergamon Acropole | €15 |
| Pergamon Asklepion | €13 |
| Red Basilica | €3 |
| Pergamon Museum | €3 |
If you plan to visit Pergamon, remember that it is a big ancient city. You should spend at least two days to see the whole area. If you want quick and easy transportation to the archaeological site, you can choose to stay at the hotels in the center of Bergama.
How to Get to Pergamon Ancient City?
Getting to Pergamon Ancient City from the Izmir city center is easy. To go to Pergamon, you can use the minibusses that depart every 20 minutes from the Izmir Bus Terminal. You can also take IZBAN to Aliaga, where you can take Bergama-Izmir minibusses.
Where is Pergamon?
Pergamon is in the center of Bergama district of Izmir city on the west coast of Turkey.
Conclusion
Taking a brief look at the Ancient City of Pergamon, we tried to provide you with critical information about the area. As it’s one of the ancient world’s most stunning settlements, we suggest you see this place for yourselves. You can plan a two- to three-day trip to Bergama, Izmir, and witness different periods of time in this small Aegean town.