The city of Bergama is a treasure trove of antiquity and Ottoman heritage. The city`s attractions belong to different eras. In the Pergamon Acropolis, you can see masterpieces of Hellenistic architecture. The Temple of Trajan, the medical center Asclepion, the Red Basilica, and the Amphitheater are landmarks from the Roman era. The old town, with its Ottoman mosques, hammams, and traditional bazaar, is of great interest, creating a unique Eastern charm.
History of Ancient Pergamon
Pergamon was first mentioned in the 4th century BCE, but archaeological finds indicate that a settlement existed here as early as the Bronze Age (12th century BCE). According to legend, the city was founded by Pergamos, the son of Andromache and Helenus (heroes of the Trojan War).
• Greek Period: In the 5th–4th centuries BCE, Pergamon was a small fortified city under Persian rule and later under Alexander the Great.
• After Alexander the Great: In 323 BCE, Pergamon became part of the kingdom of Lysimachus, one of Alexander’s successors.
• Attalid Dynasty: The peak of the Kingdom of Pergamon (283–133 BCE). In 283 BCE, Philetaerus, a former treasurer of Lysimachus, declared Pergamon’s independence, founding the Attalid dynasty.
• Roman Period (133 BCE–395 CE): After being incorporated into the Roman Republic, Pergamon retained its status as a cultural and medical center.
• Ottoman Period (from the 14th century): Bergama became a provincial town with Eastern charm.
The Ancient Acropolis – One of the World’s Greatest Landmarks of Hellenistic Architecture
• Theater for 10,000 Spectators: Built in the 3rd century BCE and reconstructed by the Romans. 78 out of 80 seating rows remain. The theater is built on a steep slope (45° incline) and integrated into the hillside without artificial supports.
• Temple of Dionysus (2nd century BCE): The center of the Dionysian cult, where mysteries were held. The temple had an Ionic peripteros with 36 columns. The foundation and three columns remain.
• Temple of Trajan (Trajaneum): Built between 117–118 CE (Roman era). The only temple in Asia Minor dedicated to the deified emperor. The high podium, colonnades, and numerous marble decorative fragments have survived.
• Sanctuary of Athena: The main religious center of Pergamon. German archaeologists discovered fragments of the famous "Pergamon Altar" here (now in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin). The armor of Alexander the Great was also stored here, along with the Pergamon Library.
• Defensive Walls: Stretching 4 km with a thickness of up to 5 m. The best-preserved section is the southern wall, about 200 meters long (near the funicular). Dozens of towers once rose above the walls.
Roman Heritage of Bergama
In addition to the ancient Acropolis, the city preserves several landmarks from the Roman era:
• Asclepion (2nd century CE): One of the largest medical centers of antiquity. The underground healing tunnel (150 m), a circular temple-rotunda, an ancient theater, and numerous ruins of Roman structures remain. Excavations uncovered marble tablets with records of medical cases.
• Red Basilica (2nd century CE). Initially it was the temple of the Egyptian gods Serapis and Isis. With the spread of Christianity in the Byzantine period (5th–6th centuries), the temple was converted into a three-nave basilica. It was one of the first churches built on the site of a pagan sanctuary. Architecture: A massive structure (60×26 m) made of red brick. Interesting fact: Mentioned in the Book of Revelation as the "Throne of Satan."
• Roman Bridges: Three Roman bridges remain in Bergama. The most impressive is located near the Red Basilica. Built in the 2nd century CE during Emperor Hadrian’s reign, the bridge is made of brick and stone and measures about 40 meters in width, making it one of the widest bridges in the Roman world.
• Roman Amphitheater: One of the few in Asia Minor. Only small ruins remain, but they give an idea of the amphitheater’s enormous size.
Ottoman Bergama: An Eastern Fairytale
• Old Town (Çarşı): Narrow cobbled streets with 18th–19th-century houses. Bergama’s old town centers around the bazaar.
• Ulu Cami (1399): The oldest mosque in Bergama, built on the foundation of a Byzantine church.
German Excavations
Between 1878 and 1886, German archaeologists led by Carl Humann conducted large-scale excavations in Pergamon, which became a scientific sensation. They discovered and transported to Berlin:
• The Pergamon Altar (180–160 BCE) – the main prize of the excavations
• The 120-meter-long frieze of the Temple of Athena
• The statue of Emperor Trajan from his temple
• Thousands of cuneiform tablets from the royal archives
Pergamon evolved from a modest settlement into one of the greatest cities of the Hellenistic world. Its history is a tale of science (parchment, medicine), art (the Altar of Zeus), and politics (the struggle with Rome). Today, walking among the ruins, one can imagine the vibrant life that thrived here 2,500 years ago. Pergamon gave the world parchment – a technology that replaced papyrus and was used until the Middle Ages.
