Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS:10x19 antik kentler 8/1/11 10:51 AM Sayfa
center of the lower diazoma was the royal box where the king sat.
This was built from marble, a stone not much used in Hellenistic
Pergamon, while the rest of the seats were of the ordinary greyish
andesite stone, more typical of Pergamon architecture.
The stage of the theater underwent alterations during Roman times.
Situated before the theater is a terrace (18) consisting of a Doric stoa
246.5 m. longx16 m. wide extending as far as the Temple of Dionysos
(17), which is still impressive with its marble steps and podium. The
Ionic temple measured 11.80x20.22 m. It is approached by 25 steps
that rise to a height of 4.5 m. The temple was originally built in the
2 nd century BC and underwent alterations during the reign of
Caracalla (211-217 AD) when it was renovated in marble. Retracing
our steps from the Temple of Dionysos, we proceed in the direction
of the Altar of Zeus (20). This structure was built by Eumenes II and
was decorated with reliefs depicting the battles between gods and
giants. The sculptures were intended to symbolize the victory of the
Pergamon kings over the Galatians. The altar was located in the
middle of a precinct measuring 69x77 m. Today all that remains here
of this magnificent altar is the foundations. The structure originally
sat on a three-tiered podium in the center of which was the marble
altar. The top of the podium was surrounded on three sides by an
Ionic order stoa giving the structure a horseshoe-like appearance. 20
steps led up to the open rectangular area on top where the altar was
located. This monument consisted of four stages. The lowest was a
crepidoma with five steps and measuring 36.44x34.20 m. at the base
(This is all that still remains in Pergamon). This was surmounted by
a podium, a middle frieze of reliefs and a columned portico forming
an enclosing wall. The frieze measured 120 m. long and 2.30 m. high
and depicted a battle between the Greek gods and the giants.
The friezes are currently displayed in the Berlin Museum. To the west
of the Zeus Altar is the Pergamon Agora (21). Originally built in the
3 rd century BC, the agora is enclosed on the north east and south west
by Doric stoa. The altar of the agora was in the western part of the
square where the foundations (22) of a small temple measuring
12.30x6.70 m. may be seen. Between the Temple of Athena and the
Altar of Zeus was a double-aisled stoa (19) which dates from the
late-Hellenistic Period. Proceeding in the direction of the row of
Hellenistic shops again (2) we may return to where we left our car
having completed our tour of the magnificent upper city of Pergamon.
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