ACROPOLIS
OF PERGAMON continued...
Next
to the Library, next to the Theater, (Number 9), are the
ruins of a Hellenistic house with one large and three small
rooms.
To
the north of the Holy Square of Athena, on a terrace above
the Library, are the ruins of the Trajan Temple, (number
15). The temple was built for the deified Roman Emperor
Trajan. Upon his death, from 117-18 AD it was completed
by his successor Hadrian. In the excavation of the site,
remnants of sculptures of both emperors were found.
The
temple is built upon an artificial terrace measuring 60
x 70m). It is constructed in the Corinthian style, with
6x9 columns supporting the architrave and upper members.
The artificial terrace upon which it stands is supported
in vaults and buttresses. The temple was originally 18 meters
in height, the roof bears decoration also to be seen in
the temple of Bergama.
Below
the temple of Athena, the theatre, (no 16 on the map) is
to be seen. This has one of the steepest terraces of any
theatre of the classical period. This amazing construction
is situated on the western blank of Pergamon acropolis.
It is capable of holding 10,000 spectators. It is equally
impressive, both from a distance and from close by. The
theatre terraces are broken into three by two horizontal
pathways. Small additional steps between the rows of seats
were built to enable the spectators to take their seats
in comfort.
During
the Hellenistic period, the theatre had a removable wooden
scene, mounted on large poles, which embedded in the foundations.
The stage still in position dates from the Roman period.
A
path leading to the left from the entrance to the theatre
takes us to the temple of dionysos.

In
front of the theatre is a terrace 250 m. long. This was
a meeting place for the inhabitants of Pergamon. The remains
of the temple clearly exhibit its former magnificence, whether
in form or materials used. The temple, dating from the 2
century B.C. was built of andesite. When destroyed by fire,
it was built of marble by the Roman emperor Caracalla. Marble
steps led to a faced of four pillars. The temple measured
11.80m x 20.22m. and blended excellently with the terrace
before it.
The
path to the left, leading to the Heron, also takes us to
the shrine of Zeus. This shrine, seen as no. 20 on the plan,
has survived only in the form of a few steps in the shadow
of a tree.
The
shrine was built during the reign of Eumenes II in honor
of his victory against the Galatians. The Zeus altar rested
on a huge, horseshoe shaped marble base. It was surrounded
by Ionic stoas. A frieze, 120 meters long and 2.30 meters
in height ran around the base. This showed the battle between
the Gods and the Giants. The shrine was built in an open
space, to the east, with an entrance to the west. Twenty
steps led up to the rectangular space where stood the marble
shrine altar.
The
lowest part of the monument measured 36.44 x 34.20 meters.
It had five steps. Over this is the horseshoe shaped section.
The discovery of the remains of the Zeus shrine was made
in 1871 by the German engineer Carl Humann. The shrine was
then dismantled and reconstructed with the existing parts
in the museum at Berlin.
 |
Home
|
 |
Acropolis
in Pergamon continued...
|
 |
Back
to Western Anatolia Civilizations |
|