Page 30 - Turkinsurance Digital Magazine

28 cultural outlook

Bergama (Pergamon)

Pergamon was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in gamon to create a library of manuscripts that rivalled the world
2014, and it has been one the rare settlements that has survived renowned library of Alexandria, and paved the way to develop the
several invasions and devastations over the ages, but reoccupied city as an important centre of arts and science in the 2nd centu-
again on the merits of its strategic location. As confirmed by the ry BC. Pergamon had one of the first Seven Churches of early
findings of the excavations held, prehistory of Pergamon reaches Christianity, and its name is cited in the Bible. The first theatre
back to second millennia BC. The city survived Persian domina- with a wooden stage; first trade union; first market law; first pub-
tion and conquest of Alexander the Great. The most brilliant phase lic building regulation; first strike and collective agreement were
of its history lasted almost one hundred and fifty years when it amongst other firsts that took place in the history of Pergamon.
was the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon during 3rd and 2nd
centuries BC. At this time, one of the largest libraries of the world Open Air Museum
was built here and the city became a healing centre. The arts also The principal ruins of the ancient Pergamon, comprising all the
flourished, and the city particularly became renowned for magnif- religious, social and commercial structures, are in the acropolis
icent sculptures. During the Roman period, Pergamon maintained and the most remarkable of these include the ruins of Pergamon
its significance and developed further becoming “the most famous Library, which was one of the largest of the world in that era and
and magnificent city of the Asia Minor”, as described by the 1st hosted a collection of 200 thousand manuscripts; the ten thou-
century AD philosopher and author Pliny the Elder. Visiting Ber- sand seat theatre where the audience enjoyed the magnificent vista
gama would provide you a chance to trace the steps of the ancient of Pergamon Valley; the Sanctuary of Athena and the Temple of
city Pergamon through several unique experiences. Dionysus; the Sanctuary of Trajan; the Pergamon Gymnasium,
which was one the most important learning institutions of the Hel-
The City of Firsts lenistic Era; and, the Royal Palaces of Pergamon. The Base of
Every year almost a million people visit Bergama and the ruins Great Altar of Pergamon, or the Zeus Altar, could also be seen in
of ancient city Pergamon, which has witnessed many firsts in its the Acropolis. However the whole superstructure of the Altar was
history. One of the most significant of these was the first ever use dismantled and transported to Germany in the late Ottoman Era
of parchment. Invention of script has been a major breakthrough and it is now on display in Berlin – the Altar and its friezes show
for the history of humanity, and innovation of parchment was quite the best examples of the art and architecture of Pergamon in the
important as it created a medium, enabling quick and stable re- Hellenistic Era.
cording of scripts. The development of parchment allowed Per-