Pergamon, Ancient Greek city and acropolis in Bergama, Turkey
Pergamon is an ancient Greek city whose acropolis sits on a 335-metre andesite mesa above the Bakırçay plain. Its south side rises in three natural terraces, and the upper city measures only about 150 metres across. Visitors see fallen column drums, a stepped stone platform with four upright columns, and a curving retaining wall pierced by three arched openings.
The Attalid dynasty made the site their capital in the third century BC and built major structures on the acropolis. Under their rule, the city developed into an important center of the Hellenistic world before later falling under Roman control.
The name refers to the ancient city and its acropolis, which today attracts visitors interested in Greek and Roman history. On-site, you can see remains of temples, public buildings, and houses that show how the city was once organized.
A cable car from the lower station on Akropol Street takes visitors to the upper part of the site and runs daily from 8:30 in the morning until 5:30 in the evening. The path through the ruins is partly steep and uneven, so sturdy footwear and enough drinking water are recommended.
The theater, which could hold ten thousand spectators, was built directly into the steep hillside and is considered the steepest ancient theater in the world. The box for royal visitors is still visible and shows how important social hierarchies were in the design.
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