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2004-2008
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The Acropolis of Pergamum (Pergamon)
is certainly dramatic,
perched atop a high, steep-sided hill
at the eastern reaches of the modern
city. The great temples and
dramatic theater are
visible from anywhere in the city,
as they were meant to be.
Follow the signs to the Akropolis.
From the Bergama
Museum at the center
of Bergama, it's over 5 km (3 miles)
to the top of the hill along a narrow
road that winds around the hill. A
gate near the bottom of the hill is
closed during the night to prevent
access to the site.
The foundations of the monumental
buildings of the ancient city cascade
down the hill right to the modern city.
It used to be possible to hike to the
top of the hill through the Gate
of Eumenes and the various gymnasia and agoras,
but the entire archeological site is
now enclosed by a fence.
If you walk, you must walk along the auto
road all the way to the summit—a
long, hot walk in summer. (In April—a
much more pleasant time to hike—the
hill is carpeted with beautiful wildflowers.)
As you ascend the hill, note the remains
of ancient aqueducts in
the valleys to the west and north.
At the summit is a parking
lot (small
fee), some souvenir and refreshment
shops. Pay the admission fee of YTL10,
and walk up the stone ramp to reach
the summit.
The most prominent building here is
the Traianeum, or
Temple of Trajan, a huge marble temple
that has been partially reconstructed
from ruins found on the site.
Beside
it is the Temple of Athena,
also partially reconstructed. Between
the Traianeum and Athena temple was
Pergamum's famous library of
200,000 volumes.
Behind
these to the east are the ruins of
numerous dark stone palaces (not
much to look at). West of them, carved
into the steep hillside, is the dramatic Hellenistic
theater. Like most Hellenic
and Hellenistic theaters, it offered
a scenic panorama just
in case the play was boring.
The highest point on the hilltop,
now marked by a Turkish flag, were
3rd-century BC arsenals.
Just down the hill from the summit
on its own terrace is the site of the Altar
of Zeus, now in Berlin. At
the foot of the theater, reached by
the grand Theater Terrace/Promenade,
was the Temple
of Dionysus.
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Above, the
Traianeum (Temple
of Trajan).
Below, Pergamum's dramatic theater.
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