Library of Pergamum, Ancient library ruins in Bergama, Turkey.
The Library of Pergamum was a building with multiple rooms designed for storing and reading ancient texts. The structure included special spaces between walls and shelves that helped control moisture conditions inside.
A ruler of the 2nd century BCE founded this center as one of the largest knowledge repositories in the ancient Mediterranean. The facility became a major place of learning and intellectual exchange during the Hellenistic period.
The name comes from the precious parchment scrolls housed here, attracting scholars from across the ancient world. The reading spaces were places of deep study where people engaged with philosophical works and scientific texts.
The ruins sit within an archaeological site that visitors can explore on foot, allowing you to see the floor plans of different rooms. The best time to visit is during cooler months, as the site offers little shade.
When supply lines of writing material from the east were cut off, scholars there developed a new writing surface that later spread throughout the ancient world. This innovation was a practical solution that created a new medium for preserving knowledge.
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