Pergamon Temple

The Precinct of Athena

Situated at the sacred place on the left of the superior entry of the Acropolis; it is composed by the Propylaea, the Stoa and the Temple of Athena, all surrounding the Sacred Square.

The Temple of Athena

Built in the 3rd century B.C.E., this is the oldest cult center of the city. The Doric order building was constructed on a peripteral plan with six columns on the facade and ten on the long sides. The krepis (the basement of the Temple) is formed by two steps and measures 41.7 x 71.4 ft. (12.72 x 21.77 m). The naos or cella (the inner sanctum) is divided in two and was dedicated to Goddess Athena but also to God Zeus.

The foundations of the Sanctuary were linked together by crepidoma of iron and wood. The traces of this crepidoma are still visible. The Sanctuary of the Temple is built with the andesite of the country. Earlier, the Sanctuary of the Temple was composed by a rock located at the NorthEast, inclined to the South. It was by cutting these rocks that the flat surface was obtained. This rectification was made at the time of the founding of the Sacred Stoa. At a later period a partial rectification was undertaken. The sanctuary, unreachable by the South, is held by a wall of dressed blocks. At the West, which is the superior part of the theater, is encircled by a long wall. At the head of that wall is a way through the theater with 29 steps. This way between the Temple and the theater was prepared for a few people.

Present state: Only some of the stepped foundations and the tunnel to the theater have survived.

The Propylaea

The entrance to the Sanctuary, made with andesite, was done by the East side crossing the two-level Propylaea (monumental entrance). In the facade, the first level had four Doric columns, and the second level had four Ionic columns. The architrave that was placed between the two levels held the following dedication: From King Eumenes to Athena Nikephore, the Bearer of Victories. At the balcony on the second level were displayed the weapons of the defeated Galates. The Propylaea and the Stoa were built in commemoration of this victory.

Present state: The entrance gate has been reconstructed at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.

The Stoa

Crossing the Propylaea the two-level stoa is reached. The Stoa, placed inside the sanctuary, is at the North-South and East-West corner. The length of the North-South gallery is 131 ft. (40 m) long and 17.7 ft. (5.4 m) wide. The first level has 17 Doric columns. The length of the East-West gallery is 213 ft. (65 m) long and 32 ft. (10 m) wide. Two stairs lead to the first level of both galleries. The wall of this gallery had niches for statues and reliefs from the sculptors Epigonos, Phyromachios, Statonicos and Antigonos. The gallery's second level was made with Ionic columns. The stone architrave, placed above the Ionic capitals, were of the Doric order. This type of architecture was typical of Pergamon. The internal surface of the walls of this gallery was covered with marble plaques 5.9 ft. (1.8 m) high. Between the Ionic columns of the second level , there was 42 panels with 3.2 ft. (1 m) high. These panels, facing the Sanctuary, displayed the weapons of the defeated Galates.

At the sanctuary of Athena there were art collections and the trophies taken to the Galates, at the time of their defeat. More, as a sign of gratitude Attalus I (241-197 BCE) erected beside the trophies a magnificent statue representing the Goddess Athena. His son, Eumenes II (197-159 BCE), after defeating the Spartan tyrant Nabis, erected a monument honoring the Goddess Athena Nikephore, the Bearer of Victories, a statue with more then 19.6 ft. (6 m) high.

Behind the north stoa was housed Pergamon's famous Library also built by Attalus I, which at its peak rivaled that of Alexandria. The access to the West rooms of the Library was made by the first stage of the North Stoa. Later kings commissioned a copy of the great Phidias' Athena Parthenos to the Library.

Present state: Some column bases can be seen.

The Sacred Square

The round base at the center of the Sacred Square bore bronze statues. This round base was modified in Roman times.

Views

  • Overall view of the remains of the Temple of Athena, from the NorthWest.
  • Andesite Doric capitals from the Temple of Athena.
  • Dowel holes and pouring channels for columns at NW corner of the Temple of Athena.
  • Bedrock and remains of the West crepidoma of the Temple of Athena, from the South.
  • Butterfly clamps in the foundations for the Temple of Athena, from the South.
  • Overall view of the temenos, from NorthEast.
  • Overall view of the temenos, from SouthWest.
  • Overall view of the North stoa of the temenos, from East and above.
  • View from the NW corner of the temenos toward SouthWest and the Asklepieion.
  • Column base (3rd from West end of the interior row) in the North stoa of temenos.
  • Marble base from the statue of Augustus set up in the temenos, from the NorthEast.
  • Stoa and water channel on NorthWest side of the temenos, from the SouthWest.

See also

Source

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