Bergama

Pergamon

τὸ Πέργαμον (in Ancient Greek)
Shown within Turkey
Alternative name	Pergamum
Location	Bergama, İzmir Province, Turkey
Region	Aeolis
Coordinates	39°07′57″N 27°11′03″E / 39.13250°N 27.18417°E / 39.13250; 27.18417
Type	Settlement
Area	90 ha (220 acres)
History
Cultures	Greek
Associated with	Epigonus, Sosus of Pergamon, Aelius Nicon, Galen
Site notes
Condition	Ruined
Ownership	Public
Public access	Yes
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape
Criteria	Cultural: i, ii, iii, iv, vi
Reference	1457
Inscription	2014 (38th Session)
Area	332.5 ha
Buffer zone	476.9 ha

Pergamon or Pergamum (/ˈpɜːrɡəmən/ or /ˈpɜːrɡəmɒn/; Greek: Πέργαμον), also referred to by its modern Greek form Pergamos (Πέργαμος),^[a][1] was a rich and powerful ancient Greek city in Mysia. It is located 26 kilometres (16 mi) from the modern coastline of the Aegean Sea on a promontory on the north side of the river Caicus (modern-day Bakırçay) and northwest of the modern city of Bergama, Turkey.

During the Hellenistic period, it became the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon in 281–133 BC under the Attalid dynasty, who transformed it into one of the major cultural centres of the Greek world. Many remains of its monuments can still be seen and especially the masterpiece of the Pergamon Altar.^[2] Pergamon was the northernmost of the seven churches of Asia cited in the New Testament Book of Revelation.^[3]

The city is centered on a 335-metre-high (1,100 ft) mesa of andesite, which formed its acropolis. This mesa falls away sharply on the north, west, and east sides, but three natural terraces on the south side provide a route up to the top. To the west of the acropolis, the Selinus River (modern Bergamaçay) flows through the city, while the Cetius river (modern Kestelçay) passes by to the east.

Pergamon was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.

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