Pergamon

Lore & Background

The site shows settlement from the Archaic period, with pottery fragments dating to the late 8th century BC. At that time, Pergamon was held by the family of Gongylos from Eretria, who had received it from Xerxes I. Philetaerus founded the dynasty after the collapse of the Kingdom of Thrace. His successors—Eumenes I, Attalus I, Eumenes II, Attalus II, and Attalus III—enlarged the kingdom. The city was rebuilt on a monumental scale, with a new wall enclosing about 90 hectares. The Attalids aimed to create a second Athens, building a library second only to Alexandria and fostering the production of parchment (though parchment was used earlier).

Reader's Guide

Pergamon's significance lies in its role as a major Hellenistic cultural and political center. Under the Attalids, it became a hub of art and learning, rivaling Alexandria and Athens. The city's library and parchment production contributed to the preservation and transmission of ancient knowledge. The Pergamon Altar remains a masterpiece of Hellenistic art. The city is also noted as the northernmost of the seven churches of Asia in the Book of Revelation. Its UNESCO listing in 2014 recognizes its outstanding universal value as an archaeological site.

Did You Know?

• Pergamon was the northernmost of the seven churches of Asia cited in the New Testament Book of Revelation.
• The name 'parchment' is a corruption of 'pergamenos', meaning 'from Pergamon', though parchment was used in Anatolia long before the city's rise.