Pergamum

Pergamum and its ruins are 8 km from the modern city of Bergamo. Pergamum is one of the great powers of the ancient world, although its fame is relatively short-lived. Impressed by his impregnable fortress, in the III-II century BC, Lysimachus, one of the generals of Alexander the Great, decided that this was the place where he could collect the booty he had accumulated during the campaigns in Asia Minor. When Lysimachus was assassinated in 281 BC, Phileterus, the commander of Pergamum, settled in the city.

The dynasty he founded, known as the Atlaids, ruled until 133 BC, when Crazy Attalus III died and bequeathed the entire kingdom of Rome. During its heyday, the city was a magnificent architectural and artistic center - especially during the reign of Eumex II (197-159 BC), who built the famous Pergamum Library, which contained 200,000 books.

Starting to compete with the library in Alexandria, Egypt, the Egyptians banned the sale of papyrus on Pergamum. Then Pergamum created a new writing material - parchment made of animal skin instead of reeds. The library of Pergamum was later transported to Alexandria by Cleopatra, where it remained until the 7th century AD, when it was destroyed by the fanatical Caliph Omar, who said the books were anti-Islamic.

The remains of the acropolis are interesting. The Temple of Trajan has been partially restored here. On the terraces just below you can see the scarce remains of the Temple of Athena and the Altar of Zeus. The altar of Zeus was discovered by German archaeologists and is one of the most magnificent monuments of the Greek world. They sent everything they found to the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, including a 400-foot frieze depicting the battle of the gods with the Titans. The Grand Theater, carved into the steep slope west of the terrace of the Temple of Athens, can accommodate 10,000 spectators and still retains its acoustics.

Asclepius - the sanctuary of Asclepius, consists of a temple, gallery and healing source and is considered the world's first health clinic with full service. There were also swimming pools that were used for mud and sacred water baths. An underground corridor leads to the sacred space of the Temple of Telesphorus, where worshipers pray, fall into a trance and then describe their dreams.