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PERGAMUM
(BERGAMA) 
Pergamon was a small settlement
during the Archaic Period. Lysimachos, who had become the sovereign of
Anatolia after 301 B.C., delivered the war expenditures, at the amount of
9000 talents, to Philetairos who was the commander of Pergamon, and the
kingdom founded by Philetar by using this sum of money following
Lysimachos's death, flourished and became the most eminent center of culture
of the Hellenistic period during 150 years.
Eumenes the I., Attales the I. and
Eumenes the II. were enthroned successively after Philetairos. Eumenes the
II. took acropolis of Athens as an example and had the acropolis of Pergamon
adorned with works of art which reflected fine taste, and Pergamon became
one of the most graceful cities of the world. Attales the III. who succeeded
Attales the II., handed over his land to in 133 B.C.
In Acropolis, the remains that we see
on the left hand side while entering the ruins, are the monumental tombs
built for the kings of Pergamon during the Hellenistic period. Shops are
situated at their side. When we enter the Acropolis, the remains seen at our
left side, are the foundations of Propylon which Eumenes the II. had ordered
to be constructed. Today, this Propylon has been reconstructed at the Museum
of Berlin. From here, we pass to a square surrounded with three stoas of the
Doric order. This is the abode of Sacred Athena, built during the time of
Eumenes the II. The Temple of Athena built in the 3rd century B.C., is just
above the theater. The famous Library of Pergamon which contained 200.000
books, was situated north of the square. As it is already known, Antonius
had made a present of this library to Cleopatra. The remains near the
library, are the remains of houses belonging to the Hellenistic period. When
we turn back and go up the stairs, the remains of the palaces of Eumenes the
II. and Attales the II. are seen. Towards the inside of the Acropolis, there
are houses, military barracks and, at the farthest end, there are military
warehouses called "Arsenals". The building that has been restored
at present, is the Temple of Trajan. Emperer Hadrian (117-138) had this
temple constructed in the Corinthian order and it was placed upon a terrace
with dimensions of 68 x 58 m. Attempts have been continuing since the year
1976 to erect this temple which has 6 x 9 columns and a peripteros
plan.
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