Pergamon

Pergamon stands on a steep hill above the modern town of Bergama, about 100 kilometres north of İzmir. In the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, the Attalid dynasty transformed this hilltop into one of the most powerful city-states in the Hellenistic world. At its height, Pergamon rivalled Athens and Alexandria as a centre of learning, art, and architecture. Its library reportedly held 200,000 scrolls — so many that Egypt is said to have embargoed papyrus exports, prompting Pergamon to develop parchment (pergamena) as an alternative writing material.

Rome inherited the kingdom in 133 BCE when Attalus III bequeathed it in his will, making Pergamon the capital of the Roman province of Asia. The city continued to thrive under Roman rule, gaining a massive temple to the Egyptian gods, expanded infrastructure, and one of the ancient world’s most famous medical centres.

When to Visit

Spring (April through June) and autumn (September through October) are ideal. The acropolis sits at about 335 metres elevation and is exposed to wind and sun; summer temperatures regularly exceed 35°C. Winters are mild but rainy, and the hillside paths can become slippery.

How to Get There

İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) is the nearest major hub, about a 90-minute drive north. Bergama is accessible by intercity bus from İzmir or direct from Istanbul (approximately 9 hours). A cable car runs from the base of town to the acropolis summit, making the ascent accessible without hiking.

What to See

The Acropolis

The upper city occupies a dramatic ridgeline. The Theatre of Pergamon, carved into the western slope, had a capacity of 10,000 and a rake so steep that the uppermost rows offer a nearly vertical view of the stage 36 metres below — making it the steepest theatre in the ancient world. Nearby stand the foundations of the Temple of Athena, the remains of the famous Library of Pergamon, and the royal palaces.

The Altar of Zeus

The Great Altar of Pergamon, built around 180–160 BCE, featured a monumental frieze depicting the battle between the gods and the giants (Gigantomachy). The altar itself was excavated and transported to Berlin in the 19th century, where it remains in the Pergamon Museum. On site, only the foundations are visible — but the scale of the platform conveys the ambition of the original structure.

The Asklepion

Downhill from the acropolis, the Asklepion was an ancient healing centre dedicated to the god of medicine, Asklepios. Patients received treatment through a combination of herbal remedies, dream interpretation, mud baths, and therapeutic walks along a colonnaded sacred way. The physician Galen, one of the most influential medical writers in history, practised here in the 2nd century CE. Remains include the treatment tunnel, the temple of Asklepios, a small theatre, and a library.

The Red Basilica (Kızıl Avlu)

In the lower town, the massive brick structure known as the Red Basilica was originally a 2nd-century CE temple to the Egyptian gods Serapis, Isis, and Harpocrates. Its scale — roughly 60 by 26 metres — makes it one of the largest Roman-era temple buildings in Anatolia. Early Christians later converted it into a basilica, and the Book of Revelation’s letter to the church at Pergamon may refer to this congregation.

Practical Information

Allow half a day for the acropolis and Asklepion combined. The cable car to the acropolis costs a separate fee from site entry. The Asklepion is about a 20-minute walk or short drive from the acropolis base. Bergama town has small hotels and restaurants but most visitors on guided tours stay in nearby Ayvalık or proceed to İzmir. The Bergama Museum in town holds a collection of finds from the site.

One Thing Most Visitors Miss

Between the acropolis and the Asklepion, scattered through the streets of Bergama itself, lie the remains of Pergamon’s middle city — Roman bridges, an ancient aqueduct, and residential foundations largely ignored by visitors moving between the two main sites. Walk through the town rather than driving, and the extent of the ancient city becomes apparent.

Pergamon competed with Alexandria for the title of the ancient world’s greatest library. The books are gone, but the hillside they were read on remains.