Places to Visit in Bergama

Acropolis

Acropolis, the upper city of the kingdom of Pergamum, was built on the highest hill of the city. Since it is believed that they would be closer to God if they built their temples on hills according to the ancient belief, it is possible to see many temples in Acropolis. After the excavations in 1878, many artefacts in Bergama were smuggled to the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Temple of Dionysos, Altar of Zeus and many more works of art are among the smuggled works in Berlin.

The ruins on the Acropolis include the ruins of the Bergama king palaces, five cisterns, an arsenal, a library, the temple of Trajan, the temple of Athena, the temple of Demeter, the Altar of Zeus, the Gymnasium and one of the steepest theatres in the world. It is 300 meters high and can be reached by foot or by cable car for a small fee.

Agora:

  The Hellenistic structure is located above the altar of Zeus. Hermes, the god of merchants, was made with dor style. The foundations of the temple can also be seen on the western side of the square.  

Gymnasiums

In ancient times, the ancient city of Pergamum had Gymnasiums located on three separate terraces. According to the research and found inscriptions, the lower terraces belong to children, the middle terraces belong to young adults and the top terraces belong to adults.  

Asklepion

Asclepius was one of the sons of Apollo known as the god of health and medicine. Asklepieion, meaning the place of Asclepius, is the health centre of Pergamum. Asklepieion, known as the centre where psychotherapy was applied for the first time in the world, is thought to be founded in the 4th century BC. In Asclepieion, which was the most important health centre of the ancient period, treatments such as drinking water from the holy fountain, water-mud bath, treatment methods applied on an empty and full stomach, treatments with herbs, physiotherapy and psychotherapy treatments were applied.During the Roman period, the sanctuary was connected to the city of Bergama (Pergamon) via Via Tecta, which is about 1 km long.

The Asklepieion was a health dormitory that served patients from different parts of the world during the Roman period, consisting of an allergy-free courtyard, a theatre building for 3500 people, patient rooms where water and music treatments were applied, and a cultural hall and library belonging to Emperor Hadrianus. The snake column, the symbol of medicine today, was erected at the entrance square of Asclepieion.

“Death cannot enter here” sign was written at the entrance of the city and the patients who came to Asklepieion for treatment were first checked by the priest physicians. Fatal patients and pregnant women were not allowed to the city.

Bergama Archaeology Museum

7302 coins, 1920 ethnographic works and 8643 archaeological works are exhibited in the archaeological works section of the museum. Most of the artefacts exhibited in the museum belong to the Bronze and Byzantine periods and were found during excavations in and around Bergama.   In the ethnography section within the museum, carpets, rugs, Bergama weavings, fabric weaving samples, handmade embroideries and other works belonging to the region are exhibited. Other exhibited works that need to be seen include goddess young girl figure Nymphe statue dating back to 3rd century A.D, Medusa Mosaic found in Pergamon Acropolis and brought here and a bust of Socrates belonging to the Roman period.

Visiting hours: April 15- October 2, between the hours of 08:00- 18:30 October 3- April 14, between the hours of 08:30- 17:00 Those who have museum card can visit the museum for free.

The Serpent Column

The marble column which is the symbol of pharmacy and has a serpent figure erecting on the entrance square of the ancient city of Asklepieion has been exhibited in Bergama Archeology Museum since 2010.

First Drug with Opium Element:

In the medical sector, most of the drugs produced to relieve or reduce pain are obtained from opium. Bergama is the first place where drugs containing opium were found and used. In Bergama, the opium was used to relieve the pain of the patient, to reduce the severity of the pain, to numb the pain and to put the patients in pain to sleep.

First Asian Library:

The largest library of the Asian continent is also located in Bergama. The library, which has 200,000 books, is known as the second-largest library after the Alexandria Library of Egypt. In ancient times, the cities of Alexandria and Bergama are known to compete with each other in terms of science and the number of books. Today only the ruins of the library have remained and they are located in the north of the temple of Athena.

The library dating back to the period of Eumenes II has a large reading room measuring 13.53×15.35 meters. The statue of Athena which was inside the library in ancient times was abducted and is now on display in the Berlin museum.

Palaces:

There are stoas surrounding the temple of Athena and the remains of the palaces of the kings that rule Bergama in the east of the library. It is estimated that the small house in the north of the remains of two large houses with courtyards was built during the reign of Attalus and the larger one was built during the reign of Eumenes. The mosaic pieces and other pieces found in these palaces are now exhibited in the Berlin museum.

Arsenals:

The structures known as military equipment and ammunition consist of 5 elongated structures extending parallel to each other. It is located 10 meters below the palaces and the temple of Trajan at the northern end of the Acropolis.

The Temple of Trajan:

It is the highest terrace of the Acropolis built for the Roman emperor Trajan, who is accepted as God. The marble statues of Trajan and Hadrian in the structure, which was built 68×58 meters high, are exhibited in the Berlin Museum today.

First Parchment Production:

Due to the cultural, economic and book competition between Pergamon and Alexandria, the king of Egypt imposed an export ban on the papyrus plant used in papermaking so that the Pergamon library could not cross the library of Alexandria.

King Eumenes II of Pergamum announced that a prize would be given to the inventor of a new paper, and the library manager processed the goatskin and made it possible to write on it. Thus, the first parchments were used. In the following years, with the appearance of cellulose paper, parchment was used for many years only in important treaties or in the imperial orders of kings.

First Strike and Collective Agreement:

The second ruler of the Pergamon Kingdom, Eumenes, signed bilateral economic and cultural agreements in order to establish a friendship with neighbouring kingdoms, countries and cities. Eumenes has signed agreements that regulate the living conditions and salaries of mercenaries providing the country’s security and has also made history by accepting the treaty granting the right to strike.

First Strike and Collective Agreement:

The second ruler of the Pergamon Kingdom, Eumenes, signed bilateral economic and cultural agreements in order to establish a friendship with neighbouring kingdoms, countries and cities. Eumenes has signed agreements that regulate the living conditions and salaries of mercenaries providing the country’s security and has also made history by accepting the treaty granting the right to strike.

Festivals in Bergama:

Different festivals and events are organized throughout the year to promote Bergama and to provide a unique day for the people of Bergama and the visitors of Bergama. List of festivals and events organized: International Bergama Children’s Festival (April 19-24) International Bergama Bazaar (May 30 to June 6) International Bergama Motorcycle Festival (in October) Liberation Day Events of Bergama (14 September)

Thermals in Bergama:

Mahmudiye thermal Paşa thermal Geyikli thermal Güzellik thermal Dereköy thermal Haydar thermal