The ancient city of Pergamum, or Pergamon, in Turkey is an impressive archaeological site with hyperbolic details. The city was an extremely wealthy and powerful Grecian kingdom and one of the seven churches about which John wrote. Perched high above the modern city of Bergama, the acropolis of Pergamum holds most of the remaining treasures of the site. However, at the base and in the valleys surrounding the acropolis remnants can be found of this ancient city including an Egyptian-style temple, aqueducts, and a large stadium or hippodrome.
We visited the Acropolis where we saw the ruins of the ancient library, temples, houses, a theater, and more. It was a marvelous introduction to amazing classical architecture. Troy was great, but it is nothing spectacular to look at, a lot is still left to the imagination. Pergamum, however, has lots left to satisfy. I felt like I was walking through one of my favorite college courses in virtual reality with authentic classical architecture as it was designed and meant to be used for the first time in my life.
Pergamon’s Library
One of the most significant features of ancient Pergamum was its library. It was second largest in antiquity only to Alexandria’s great library. At one point the greater was worried that Pergamum’s library would get bigger and better, so Egypt stopped the export of papyrus to make paper. This didn’t stop the people of Pergamum. It only led to the development of parchment, a word that means from Pergamum.
Today, there isn’t much left of the library. One reason it was built on the top of this acropolis was for safety. Its location would protect the treasures housed there. However, as was the case in many ancient Roman cities centuries later, when Christianity became the official state religion, the pagan texts were destroyed and pilfered. If anything remained after that, it may have been taken or destroyed during the Ottoman period. Whatever was left was carted off by “archeologists” from the German railroad who started excavations during the nineteenth century.
Pergamon’s Theater
Visible from far away, Pergamum’s theater is the steepest known theater in antiquity. As with most of the others, it is built right into the slope of the hill. This hill is extremely steep, so the theater seating is also raked very sharply. The stage at the base of the seats isn’t large, but due to the structure’s design everyone in the house can hear very well. And, unlike other ancient theaters, and because of the space on the hill, there is no back wall. Instead, the valley below would have been the backdrop. Imagine sitting there watching a play with the rolling hills of the valley below where the massive stadium was. Beyond that are the flat plains covered in crops. In the distance you can watch the setting sun over the sea.
Next to the theater is a small temple to Dionysus where the players would offer prayers and sacrifices prior to a performance. Ancient theater stems from legends of this god and celebrations of him when people would drink wine and dance and tell stories. What is amazing to me is how much the ancient theater world still affects modern theater, from the terminology for theater architecture to the way plays are performed.
The Temple of Trajan
Over time, ancient culture started doing what every culture has done since; it started deifying people of power and wealth. Sanctuaries were built to honor men, mostly emperors, in addition to the gods. A city with one or more of these such temples was highly honored and considered favored by the elite. Pergamum was one of those cities.
One of its most impressive structures is a temple built to honor Trajan. Mostly collapsed, there is only a bit left to see of the exterior structure on top of the acropolis. But, perhaps more impressive is the engineering that went into making the large platform the temple sits on. Vaulted chambers carry the weight of the structure. They are massive and pretty amazing to walk through and by.
Even with only a handful of columns left on the top, they are still impressive and offer a glimpse of the former structure’s magnificence. The detail carved in stone is stunning! There are lion head water spouts and angelic faces on the cornices. The columns are decorated with elaborate wreaths and lush capitals of acanthus leaves. Euphoric is the best word for when I rubbed my hands across the anciently carved marble and felt the expertly carved shapes and forms.
To Return
I would love to return to Pergamum and explore more of its ancient wonders. I want to climb up and around the sides of the acropolis to visit other preserved and excavated sites. I will someday! I will also visit the Pergamon Museum in Berlin where many of the grand artifacts including the altarpiece of Pergamum can be experienced today.
