Site Catalog Name: Pergamon

Physical Description:

The oldest section of Pergamon, the acropolis or upper city, sits on an impressive steep ridge between two tributaries of the Caicus river. The ridge is naturally fortified on all but the S side which slopes down to the Caicus valley floor. The Caicus valley provides access from Pergamon to the Aegean coast and the port town of Elaea in the W and the Persian Royal Road to the E.

The upper city, which was fortified in the 4th or 3rd century B.C. contains the 3rd century Sanctuary of Athena, the oldest cult center of the city as well as palace quarters, barracks, and arsenals. In the 2nd century B.C. the 10,000 seat theater, the library adjacent to the Sanctuary of Athena, and the Great Altar of Zeus and Athena were added. In the 2nd century A.D. the monumental Trajaneum was erected on what must have been an earlier unknown cult center. From the upper agora a paved main street leads S and downslope to the middle city.

The city of Pergamon began to extend down the S slope in the 3rd century B.C. and during the 2nd century a massive building program completely transformed the entire lower slope. The major construction in the area was the gigantic gymnasium complex which extended down three large terraces linked by vaulted stairways and passages. The complex encorporated three open training courts, a covered track or xystus, a small theater or odeum, several shrines, and two large baths. Other major sections of the middle city included the Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore and, below the gymnasium along the main street leading to the Eumenes' Gate, the lower agora. North and E of the gymnasium massive terraces support the streets and houses of the residential quarter. In the first half of the 2nd century B.C. Eumenes II strengthened the entire fortification system of Pergamon and enclosed all of the middle city, which extended almost to the base of the south slope, within the new walls.

During the Roman Imperial period the city continued to expand southward and spread over the plain and the area occuppied by modern Bergama. The large Sanctuary of the Egyptian Gods (the "Kizil Avlu"), numerous bridges, and remains of the Roman stadium, theater, and amphitheater remain visible today.

Excavations by the German Archaeological Institute have been conducted almost continuously since 1878. During the earliest work at the end of the last century major art works, including the entire Altar of Zeus and Athena, were carried off to Berlin.

PECS, 688-691; McDonagh 1989, 207-222; Bean 1979, 45-58

C. Texier, Description de l'Asie Mineur II (1848) 217-37. W. Dörpfeld, AthMitt (1902) 10-43; AthMitt (1904) 114-207; AthMitt (1908) 327-74; AthMitt (1910) 346-93, 524-26; AthMitt (1912) 233-76. T. Wiegand, AbhBerl Phil.-Hist. Klasse Nr.5 (1932). O. Deubner, Das Asklepieion von Pergamon (1938). H. Kähler, Der Grosse Fries von Pergamon (1948). E. Boehringer, Neue deutsche Ausgrabungen im Mittlemeergebiet und in Vorderen Orient (1959) 121-71; AA (1966) 416-83; Pergamenische Forschungen, I (1972). E. Rohde, Pergamon, Burgberg und Altar (1961). J. Schäfer, Pergamenische Forschungen, II (1968); Die Altertümer von Pergamon, I-XI (1885-1969). O. Ziegnaus and G. de Luca, AA (1970) 181-261. E.V. Hansen, The Attalids of Pergamon (1971) 485-502.

(Donald R. Keller)

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