Pergamum

The ancient city of Pergamon lies within a short distance with the modern Turkish town of Bergama, which is situated some 90km north of Izmir. The remains of the ancient Roman city are situated beneath the modern town, while the Greek city with its magnificent ruins occupies an impressive location on the top and along the terraced slopes of the hill which rises above Bergama to the east.

From the fifth to the early third century BC, Pergamon was a small fortified settlement on the top of a hill that has probably belonged to Persian landowners. Most of the extraordinary buildings and monuments in Bergama date back to the time of Eumenes II (197-159 BC), including the famous library, the terrace of the spectacular hillside theater, the main palace, the Altar of Zeus, and the propylaeum of the Temple of Athena. In the early Christian era, Pergamon's church was a major center of Christianity and was one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. In Byzantine times another wall was built higher up the hill, enclosing a smaller area, to provide protection against Arab invasions in 7th century and also against the Seljuks and Ottomans in later years. The Ottomans invaded the Pergamon region in the 14th century and thereafter the city on the hill was abandoned and fell into decay, while the new town of Bergama grew up on the south side of the hill. The ancient city is composed of three main parts: the Acropolis, whose main function was social and cultural as much as it was sacred; the Lower City, or realm of the lower classes; and the Asklepion, one of the earliest medical centers on record. Also, ancient Pergamon is credited with the invention of parchment.