Although the name of Pergamon is not mentioned in history
previous to the 4th Century BC, the city must have existed
prior to this date. Flanked on the west by the Bergama
River, and the east by the Kestel River, and watered as
well by the Bakir River, it is a fertile meadow with a
300 metre-high eagle's nest-like natural acropolis at
its centre - it is hardly possible that early man would
not have settled here. Before the invasion by the Persians
in 540 BC, Pergamon as a very small city was under the
rule of the Lydians. Pergamon is mentioned by Homer in
the Iliad, indicating that the god Zeus traveled from
Mt. Olympus to Pergamon to watch the Trojan Wars.
During
archaeological excavation, hatchets were found dating
from the Stone Age, further indicating that for Early
Man this was a favorable site for settlement.
Following
the Hellenistic Period, our knowledge of Pergama is increased.
Upon the death of Alexander the Great, his empire was
divided among his generals. The lands of Western Anatolia
were left to the general Lysimachos. Lysimachos, seeking
a place of safe-keeping for his treasure of 3,000 pieces
of gold, brought them to the security of the inaccessible
Pergamon, and left it in the care of one of his military
aids, Philetairos.
In
281 BC, upon the death of Lysimachos, Western Anatolia,
and with it Pergamon, fell under the control of the King
of Syria, Antiochos. Despite this, under an agreement
with Antiochos.
Philtairos
was granted continued possession of the city and its treasure.
Philetairos, until the year 263 BC, using the treasure,
constructed a city of beautiful buildings. With this growth,
even though not officially, the first steps nonetheless
took place on the way to Pergamum becoming a kingdom of
itself. Between 281 and 263 BC, Philetairos ruled the
city, and contributed to its development with tireless
effort. Upon his death, Eumenes, his adopted son, stepped
into his place as ruler of this citv. Neither Philetairos
nor Eumenes were officially declared, but we can nonetheless
count them as the first two kings of Pergamum. The people
of Pergamum raised Eumenes to a god-like position. They
worshipped his during his lifetime as they did his decedents.
This fact has been born out through findings during excavations.
In
241 BC, Eumenes died, succeed by his son Attalos. From
241 to 197 BC (44 years), Attalos engaged in many wars
to maintain and strengthen his kingdom. Among these wars,
the victory against the Galatians is of particular importance.
By defeating the fierce Galatians, against whom no one
had been able to resist until that time, Western Anatolia
was ensured against further invasions from without, and
Pergamum assured a strong foundation for the future.
In
279 BC, Nikomedes, King of Bythnia, invited the Galatians
to Anatolia, ensuring their settlement in Central Anatolia
in an area then called "Galatia". The Galatians, a war-like
and fierce tribe, collected ransom in return for sparing
the towns which they encountered. In this perspective,
the victory of the Kingdom of Pergamon over the Galatian
is all the more significant.
Attalos
I, declared Savior and King, erected many monuments to
eternalize this victory, Among these, the statue of a
Galatian killing himself and his wife, the Galatia Statue,
is the most important.
 |
| Plan
of the acropolis, Pergamon |
Upon
his death in 197 BC, his son Eumenes II ascended the throne.
During the 38 years of his reign, Pergamon was a very
prosperous place. In 190 BC, the Romans engaged in war
and defeated the Syrian King Antiocus in the area near
Pergamon called Magnesia. Pergamum sided with the victorious
Romans, and in return for their support were granted parts
of Magnesia which had been held by the Syrians. ,
Eumenes
II expanded and fortified the city, adding with the Lower
Agora, Grand Gymnasium and the Temple of Zeus. Encouraged
by the kings of Pergamon, a high level of quality and
interest was attained in the fine arts of Pergamon. The
statue of the dying Galitian, and the Temple of Zeus are
excellent examples of what became an art form that was
uniquely identifiable with this kingdom.
Eumenes
II expanded his kingdom to the borders of Bythinia and
Capadoccia. The neighbouring nations to Pergamon forced
Eumenes II to go to war with Bythinia and Pontus. Hannibal
as well, as an enemy of Roman, encouraged military engagements
with Pergamum.
In
159 BC Eumenes II died, Attalos II taking the throne.
Enthrode at the age of sixty, Attalos II, an aged inexperienced
ruler, was attacked by Bythnia.
The
ensuing battle entered the city itself, resulting in some
treasures being Taken from the Asklepion by the Bythnian.
In 154 BC, Rome intervened in the matter, forcing Bythnia
to repair the Asklepion, and return the stolen treasures.
In 138 BC Attalos II died, and was succeeded by his cousin
Attalos III.
Attalos
III was known to have been a tyrant. The new king had
a hobby of zoology and agriculture. His findings, including
poisons, it is rumoured were used experimentally on prisoners.
It was in fact also believed by the subjects of the kingdom
that he had poisoned Attolos II, thus producing public
hatred of him.
Attolos
III died after only five years on the throne, and with
his death in 133 BC, he willed the kingdom of Pergamon
to Rome. The people of Pergamon, not happy to live under
Roman rule, resisted by giving support to Aristoricos,
the bastard son of Eumenes II and a Roman dancer, who
led the resistance against Rome for three years. However,
Rome, by this time a world empire, succeeded in incorporating
little
Pergamon in 130 BC. A large number of artists, not happy
with this turn of events, left Pergamon at this time,
and moved to Aphrodisias, the capital of Caria, establishing
a new school of sculpture there. The close proximity of
Aphrodisias to a high quality marble quarry assisted the
artists in producing very beautiful works of art.
After
130 BC, we see Pergamon as one of the cities of the Roman
provinces in Asia, Rome, however, did not actually send
a governor to Pergamon, and neither restricted their effective
independence, nor levied any taxation.
The
most significant misfortune faced by Pergamon under the
Romans was the presentation by Anthony to Cleapatra the
200,000 volume library of the city. A further misfortune
saw the matchless, irreplaceable library burned in Egypt.
In
716 AD, the city was burned and looted by Arabs, under
the commander Mesleme bin Abdiilmelik. The Arabs remained
in the Acropolis for about one year.
Pergamon,
this city of unique and matchless art, has been excavated
periodically by German archaeologists. First, between
1878 and 1886, Karl Humann, excavated in the upper city,
and found the friezes of the high altar of Zeus. The second
excavation was undertaken by W. Dorpfeld, excavator of
Troy, in the Middle and Lower Cities. The third excavation
was undertaken by Theodor Wiegand on the Heroon, the Red
Courtyard, and Askleipion. In 1957, Erich Poehringer started
the fourth excavation, which continues.
 |
| Head
of Alexander, found at Pergamon |
 |
Home
|
 |
Acropolis
in Pergamon |
 |
Back
to Western Anatolia Civilizations |
