Bergama

An ariel view of Bergama (Source: Tourism Department of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality)

Bergama is one of the most important settlements in the history of civilization. The Pergamon Ancient City is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage for the archaeological value it has. The father of medicine, Galenos, and parchment paper are some of the most important contributions made by this region to world heritage. The symbol of medicine containing a snake, which is still used in the present day, was first used in Bergama. A column with two snakes winding around it is displayed in Asklepion.

Bergama is a historical city in which Seljuk and Ottoman artifacts as well as Roman and Byzantine buildings can be found. The samples of civil architecture like mosques, inns, baths, water tanks with fountains, synagogues and covered bazaars are worth seeing.

Pergamon Ancient City (Akropol)

Pergamon is the name of the ancient city that was established in the center of Bergama district of today's Izmir province. It is known that Pergamon was one of the important centers of the Misya region in ancient times and was the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon between 282-133 BC.

History of Pergamon

The name Pergamon comes from Pergamos, a mythic hero. Written documents mention Pergamon for the first time at the beginning of the 4th century BC. The city later became the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon. During this period, it was built with buildings such as palaces, temples, and theaters. And the city was surrounded by towers and ramparts. Pergamon remained one of the few cities of Western Anatolia after the kingdom was attached to Rome. The ruins of the old city were discovered by German engineer Carl Humann, who worked on railway laying in Western Anatolia in the 1870s. The first research and excavation work started in 1878 in Pergamon. Excavations and repair work continues today.

Library of Pergamum and Parchment

Parchment is known as the best quality writing tool that humanity has ever found. In the past, the Bergama people created a great treasure of culture in their books made of parchment paper and therefore were able to compete with Egyptian civilization. Library of Pergamum maintained an inventory of two hundred thousand books according to Plutarch; it was in a race with Alexandria Library in its own time.

Bergama Carpets

The carpets woven in Bergama for centuries have been passed down generations and have survived to the present day; these carpets have become an important cultural heritage for Izmir. The Bergama carpets, where women from Izmir process every stage of life, presents unique examples of Anatolian abstraction with its patterns and narratives. Bergama carpets are produced in harmony with nature by employing traditional weaving, a rarity nowadays. The wool collected without harming the animals was colored with madder root. As long as there are still the artisans who continue this ancient tradition, different stories of Anatolia will continue to live in Bergama motifs.