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All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.
Roman Pergamum Roman Pergamum
(detail of a statue of either Trajan or Hadrian)

Ancient Pergamum

The splendour of Ancient Pergamum in the IInd century B.C. can only be understood by visiting the Pergamonmuseum (external link) in Berlin, where one can see a reconstruction of the Altar to Zeus decorated with the original reliefs of the 120-meter-long frieze, portraying the Gigantomachy, the battle between the Olympian gods led by Zeus and the giants led by Alcyoneus.

The site of the Altar of Zeus
The site of the Altar to Zeus

Visitors who view the few remaining stones of the altar may feel betrayed by their guidebooks claiming that the Altar to Zeus is a "must see" for any traveller in Turkey: nevertheless a visitor who is in the right state of mind, not too tired, not perspiring too much, not in much of a hurry, may find this site very evocative.
The Altar is westwards oriented and it has a commanding view over the Lower City (on a clear day one can see the sea shining in the distance).

Pergamum Library
Reminders of the Library of Pergamum

Pergamum was famous for its Library and its volumes written on parchment (paper obtained from the skin of sheep and goats): of this building as well as of the royal palace, the barracks and other ancient monuments very little is left: low walls which have led archaeologists to believe that the city was to a greater or lesser extent built with timber (there are beautiful timber houses in many parts of Turkey). So in a way the sheep and goats grazing in the archaeological site are a more effective reminder of the Library, than a few stones scattered here and there.

Monuments on the Acropolis of Pergamum
Monuments on the Acropolis of Pergamum

Pergamum was not conquered by the Romans. In 133 B.C. Attalus III, its last king, bequeathed Pergamum to the Romans and this granted to the city and its inhabitants the continued benevolence of the new rulers (with the only exception being Marcus Antonius who deprived the Library of Pergamum of many of its volumes to replenish that of Alexandria, which had been damaged by Julius Caesar).
The Romans built many monuments (or enlarged the existing ones) using more advanced masonry techniques, so their buildings have better withstood the ravages of time.

Roman Pergamum - Trajan's Temple

Trajan's Temple
Trajan's Temple

The most important Roman monument in the acropolis of Pergamum is a temple dedicated to Trajan. It was built on an artificial terrace supported by a gigantic wall; a net of vaulted passages beneath the temple reduced the impact of earthquakes; part of the temple has been recently reconstructed using some of the capitals and broken columns found on the site.
The temple (even today) is very clearly visible from the Lower City.

Roman Pergamum - Aqueducts

Aqueducts
(left) Ruins of aqueducts seen from the Acropolis; (right) the arch of an aqueduct in the Lower City

Some forty aqueducts provided Pergamum with an ample supply of water, even to the acropolis which stood at the top of an isolated hill. Roman engineers managed to create such pressure conditions that the water reached a cistern located on the highest point of the acropolis. Sections of the aqueducts can be seen in the countryside while isolated arches or just their foundations surface here and there in the modern town.

Roman Pergamum - The Theatre

The theatre
The theatre

The theatre of Pergamum is incredibly steep and it was initially designed during the reign of the kings of Pergamum. It was enlarged by the Romans who replaced the timber structure of the stage with one covered with marbles. They also built a royal box next to the scene. In the IInd century AD Pergamum had three theatres because also the Lower City and the Asklepion had their own theatre.

Roman Pergamum - Temple to Dionysius

Temple of Dionysius
Temple to Dionysius

Dionysius (Bacchus for the Romans) was the god of festivals, ambiguity and disguise (he was reared as a girl); this explains why a temple dedicated to him was built near the theatre stage. It was embellished with marbles by Caracalla. While the ruins of Trajan's temple are neatly arranged and catalogued, those of this temple are scattered around as if an earthquake had just hit Pergamum.

Roman Pergamum - En route to the Lower City

Gymnasium
(left) A terrace of the Gymnasium; (right) arch leading from one terrace to the other which became one of the gates of the Byzantine walls

During the Roman rule Pergamum grew well beyond the ancient walls and gradually the whole western slope of the hill was terraced and streets and steps linked the acropolis with the new town at its foot. For centuries Roman Pergamum did not need walls, but barbarian invasions and later on Arab raids forced the inhabitants to abandon the Lower City and to protect the acropolis with new walls: the Romans had built a large gymnasium on three adjacent terraces (for children, boys and teenagers) and the arch linking two terraces became the main gate of the Byzantine town.

Move to the Roman Lower City.



SEE THESE OTHER EXHIBITIONS (for a full list see my detailed index).

Cosmopolitan AlexandriaVenetian Fortresses in GreeceAntiochia