April 13: Pergamum

Ian's turn to blog!

Pergamum

Today we left Selcuk and continued north up the Agean coast to Pergamum – modern day Bergama.  We checked into our hotel, a beautifully restored 220 year old stone house.  Once settled into our room, we were provided with a map and directions to the Acropolis by the friendly owners.  On our way to the Acropolis we stopped off and looked at the Red Hall.  A very large Roman era brick building that was a temple for the Egyptian cult gods.  While such brick buildings are common in Italy, they were rare in Asis Minor.  From the Red Hall we walked to the cable car station that took us up to the Acropolis.  

 

 The Roman red brick looks hauntingly modern - perhaps and early 20th Century Factory?

Pergamun was an amazing city that was in many ways the spiritual heir to Athens.  It became one of the most powerful kingdoms in Asia Minor after the death of Alexander the Great.  Pergamun was responsible for defeating the Gallic tribes that had migrated to Anatolia in the 4^th Century BC.  The statuary that was created to celebrate the victory was copied extensively by the Romans.  “The Dying Gaul” is perhaps one of the most famous pieces. 

Pergamun was also home to one of the greatest libraries of antiquity and it is the only one where the building can be positively identified.  In fact, after the export of papyrus from Egypt was restricted, the Pergamese invented parchment, which is named after Pergamon.

Among the highlights of the Acropolis are the Temple of Trajan and the steepest theatre ever built in classical times – even the tallest hat would be no problem for the person sitting behind!

The steepest theatre in antiquity!

Trajan's Temple

 

We had a chance to see people working on the restoration project for  the Red Hall.

The Temple of Zeus.  The actual marble parts are in the Pergamum Museum -- in Berlin, Germany.

The inside of the Basilica

Ian's new best friend.

 Later, we had a chance to walk the streets of the neighbourhood, had dinner in another restored Greek house, then spent an hour or two chatting with our host over a glass of wine.  What a lovely day!