Acropolis of Pergamon

Submitted by Iza on Sat, 11/18/2023 - 15:48

The modern city of Bergama is dominated by a hill where the ancient Acropolis of Pergamon was located. The word "Acropolis", in the areas of Greek colonization, meant the highest part of the city, most often covered with buildings playing public and religious functions. The Acropolis of Pergamon, unlike the Acropolis of Athens, served mainly the inhabitants of the city, and not the religious purposes. Here, the citizens of Pergamon walked, met, dealt with official matters, traded, and practised sports. The importance of the ancient monuments of Pergamon has now been recognized by UNESCO, which included them on the World Heritage List in 2014.

Pergamon finds in the Pergamonmuseum - das Panorama in Berlin

Submitted by Iza on Fri, 11/17/2023 - 16:44

While the Pergamon Museum in Berlin is under a prolonged restoration, some masterpieces of ancient art from Pergamon can still be seen in the nearby venue called Pergamonmuseum - das Panorama. The main attraction of this museum is the magnificent 360° Panorama of ancient Pergamon by Yadegar Asisi - the reconstruction of the city during the Roman Empire under the rule of Emperor Hadrian. However, the place also exhibits many finds from Pergamon excavations. Below, you can see the major artefacts on display there.

Enhancing a gift from the past

Submitted by Iza on Wed, 11/15/2023 - 15:56

Text by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia

I have often pondered upon the thought that the establishment of a visitor centre and museum, displaying artefacts recovered from the Temple of Apollo, and the adjacent area, would be a significant complement to the magnificent landmark(s) of ancient Didyma. As of now, the antiquities from the Didyma environment have been dispersed far and wide, though some remain at the nearby Miletus Museum.

Close up of the Emperor Hadrian inscription near the Temple of Apollo in Didyma

Aphrodisias Museum

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 11/14/2023 - 17:10

Aphrodisias Museum, which was opened in 1979, is one of the most fascinating venues of its kind in the area of Turkey. Its main exhibits are the marble works made in the ancient period, from the 1st century BCE to the 5th century CE, by the local sculptors.

Aphrodisias

Submitted by Iza on Fri, 11/10/2023 - 14:06

The ruins of ancient Aphrodisias, located in the vicinity of the modern village of Geyre, meet almost all the conditions necessary for a given place to become a tourist hit. There are wonderfully preserved remains of ancient buildings, a modern museum with interesting exhibits, and infrastructure necessary for visitors in the form of restaurants and shops. This valuable archaeological site was also included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017.