BERGAMA
Pergamon
Towering 300 metres above the city of Bergama , the ruins at Pergamon command
an extraordinary view in nearly all destinations. One can understand how
the city dominated the entire region, casting its long shadow over the
realm. This great Hellenistic City was once a centre of culture, commerce
and medicine to rival the other centres of Mediterranean Hellenism such
as Ephesus , Alexandria and Antioch . Pergamon rose to fame only during
the carve-up of the empire in the years after the death of Alexander the
Great, when his general Lysimachus “inherited” the
settlement and its wealth. In 230 BC, the king of Pergamon, Attalus I,
defeated the Gauls, earning Pargamon the respect and friendship of the
Romans.
The Aesclepion
Initially dedicated to Aesclepius, the God of Healing, this was not your average medical clinic but the first complete health spa in history.
Red Basilica
Dating from the 2 nd or 3 rd century AD, the original function has never been made clear although it probably served as a temple for various Egyptian deities. Subterranean tunnels beneath the structure have been revealed by archaeologists who think they may have been used in the worship of Serapis. Later, it was converted into a basilica by the Byzantines and dedicated to either St John or St Paul . Originally, the red-brick building was covered in marble but this has long been stripped off and nowadays only the floor paving retains its marble finish.
The Acropolis
As you pass through the royal gate, you enter one of the greatest centres of Hellenist civilisation. The natural impulse is to wander around the vast site on your own, but it is probably best to follow the posted signs which provide helpful information to guide you along. |
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