Pergamum, modern Bergama was the royal capital of Philetarios (343-263BCE) who founded the Attalid dynasty in 282 BCE. With it were a number of monuments commemorating the Attalid victory. The best known was the Tru,Peter, better known as the Dying Gaul, of which a later copy is in Rome. The colonnades and gateway which remain bears the inscription “King Eumenes to the victory bearing Athena”. The gateway is decorated with trophies of war.
A library once stood here which had a copy of Pheidias’ colossal gold and ivory statue of Athen Parthenos dating to 440 BCE.
The sanctuary of Athena dominated the skyline of the acropolis along with a stepped altar of Zeus constructed by EU, ends II, which evokes the Attalid victory over the Gauls, just as the Parthenon’s decoration celebrated Greek victory over the Persians.
The east side of Pergamon held royal palaces.
In 133 BCE Attalos III bequeathed the city to Rome and Hadrian constructed a massive temple to his father, Trajan, northwest of the sanctuary of Athena.
A sanctuary to the healing god, Asklepios, was constructed in the lower part of the city.
Archaeology Study Unit 