The word 'parchment' is derived from 'Pergamum', reflecting the city's role as a major production hub for the material.
The Hellenistic theater has a capacity of 10,000 spectators and is built at an unusually steep angle to maximize the limited space on the mountain ridge.
Pergamon was the site of the world's first psychological hospital, the Asklepion, which used sleep therapy, music, and water for healing.
Mark Antony reportedly gifted the 200,000 scrolls of the Pergamon library to Cleopatra to compensate for the fire damage at the Library of Alexandria.
The Temple of Trajan was constructed as a monumental marble structure to demonstrate Roman imperial authority in the East.
Archaeologists identified the city's ancient plumbing system as one of the most complex in the Hellenistic world, utilizing pressurized terracotta pipes.
Pergamon, a UNESCO World Heritage site, served as the capital of the Attalid dynasty and a major Hellenistic center of power. The Acropolis is uniquely situated on a steep volcanic hill overlooking the modern city of Bergama. It features the steepest theatre of the ancient world, carved directly into the mountain slope. The site formerly housed the Library of Pergamon, the second-largest library in the ancient world, which rivaled the Library of Alexandria. Significant ruins include the foundations of the Altar of Zeus, the Temple of Trajan, and the remains of a sophisticated Hellenistic water management system. Archaeological findings from the site are partially housed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, following late 19th-century excavations. The city was a major producer of parchment, which was refined here when Egyptian papyrus exports were restricted. The site remains partially excavated, with ongoing restoration work conducted by the German Archaeological Institute.
From the top of the Hellenistic theatre looking down toward the valley for a panoramic perspective.
Wear high-traction footwear as the ancient marble and stone pathways are steep and uneven.
Carry sun protection and water, as there is very little natural shade on the Acropolis.
Visit the lower city Asklepion separately to see the full scope of the ancient medical complex.
Attempting to walk from the town center to the upper Acropolis in the heat; take the cable car or a taxi to preserve energy for the walking tour.
Open year-round; the site may be inaccessible during extreme weather events or high winds if the cable car is forced to close.
Avoid climbing on ruins or restricted wall sections to prevent degradation of the site.
