Walls of the Acropolis of antique Pergamon

The Pergamon Acropolis, perched on a 300-meter hill above the valley of the Caicus River (modern Bakırçay), was one of the most fortified cities of antiquity. Its massive defensive walls, built to take advantage of the natural terrain, made the citadel virtually impregnable. In terms of strategic importance and architectural grandeur, the Pergamon Acropolis rivaled that of Athens, and its fortifications were considered masterpieces of Hellenistic military engineering.

History of the Construction of the Pergamon Acropolis Walls

Early Period (4th–3rd centuries BCE). The first fortifications appeared under Philetaerus (283–263 BCE), the founder of the Attalid dynasty. The walls were constructed from local andesite and limestone using polygonal masonry (characteristic of the early Hellenistic period).

Flourishing under Eumenes II (197–159 BCE). Under his rule, the walls were reinforced: towers were added, new gates were built, and the thickness of some sections reached 4–5 meters.

 Pergamon Acropolis Wall Structure: Dimensions and Features

• Height: Up to 12–15 meters (less on steep slopes but still impregnable due to the terrain). 
• Thickness: Ranged from 2.5 to 5 meters (vulnerable sections, such as near gates, were additionally reinforced). 
• Total length: Approximately 3.5 km (encircling the entire acropolis, including the lower city). 
• Material: Andesite (lower courses) and dressed limestone (upper sections), fastened with iron clamps.

Inside the walls of the Pergamon Acropolis were located:

• Royal palaces (of the Attalids, Eumenes II). 
• The Library (second in importance only to Alexandria’s). 
• The Temple of Trajan and the Sanctuary of Athena. 
• The Great Altar of Zeus. 
• A theater seating 10,000 spectators. 
• An arsenal and barracks.

The Southern Wall (Near the Funicular): The Best-Preserved Section 
This segment, about 200 meters long, protected the main approach to the acropolis from the direction of modern Bergama. Its features include:

• Structure: A two-tiered wall with an internal gallery for defenders. 
• Towers: Semicircular (6–8 m in diameter), spaced every 30–40 meters. 
• Preservation: Sections up to 8 meters high remain intact, with arrow slits and remnants of parapets. 
• Function: It shielded the road leading to the Southern Gates—the main entrance to the citadel.

The Southern Gates (ruined, but foundations are visible): 
• Designed as a proteichisma (double gates with an inner courtyard serving as a trap). 
• Decorated with marble reliefs (fragments discovered during excavations).

The Western Wall (Near the Arsenal): An Engineering Masterpiece 
This section, adjacent to the arsenal (where weapons and siege engines were stored), showcases the highest level of fortification:

• "Serrated" masonry: The wall follows the natural contours of the rock, creating additional dead zones for attackers. 
• Thickness: Up to 5 meters at the base, with buttresses. 
• Postern (hidden tunnel): Led from the arsenal to the outer defenses—likely for sorties. 
• Arsenal Gates: Narrow (2.5 m wide), flanked by two towers. An inscribed lintel from Eumenes II’s reign was found by archaeologists.

The Fate of the Walls: From the Romans to the Present Day 
• Roman Period (from 133 BCE): The walls were partially rebuilt but retained their significance. 
• Byzantine Era: Dismantled for stones to build churches. 
• 19th Century: German archaeologists (e.g., Carl Humann) documented the remains, preventing further destruction.

Current State: 
• The southern wall is the best-preserved (restored in the 1970s). 
• Near the arsenal, the foundations of towers and sections of masonry are visible. 
• Wall elements (including clamps) are exhibited in the Pergamon Museum (Berlin).

The walls of the Pergamon Acropolis were not merely defensive structures but symbols of Attalid power. Their design, combining the natural inaccessibility of the hill with advanced engineering, even inspired Roman architects.

Today, looking at the surviving fragments, one can imagine how the andesite blocks of this legendary citadel once gleamed in the sunlight. The most impressive view opens from the terrace of the Temple of Trajan—from here, both the southern wall and the winding western fortifications are visible.