Bergama, known as Pergamon in antiquity, is an ancient Anatolian city with roots dating back to very early times. Its name derives from the word “pergamon,” which means “castle” or “fortified place.” Throughout centuries, the city has stood out due to its strategic location and rich cultural heritage.
In ancient times, Pergamon was built approximately 392 meters above sea level on a steep mountainside. Despite challenging geographical conditions, Pergamon became the first major city to be established on such a steep slope, eventually turning into one of the prominent centers of the ancient world. The city was divided into two main sections: the “upper city” and the “lower city.” In the upper city on the hilltop, structures dedicated to defense and administration were located, while the middle slopes were home to social and religious facilities, forming common living spaces for the public. The lower city at the foothills mainly consisted of residential areas.
In 334 BCE, Pergamon came under the control of the Macedonian Kingdom after Alexander the Great ended Persian rule. Following Alexander’s death, the city’s strategic importance grew even more, and in 282 BCE, it emerged as an autonomous state under the leadership of Philetairos. The Pergamon Kingdom (280–133 BCE) survived for approximately 150 years, forging friendly relations with the Roman Empire and becoming one of the most powerful kingdoms of the Hellenistic Period in the 2nd century BCE.
In 133 BCE, the last king of Pergamon, Attalos III, bequeathed the kingdom to the Roman Empire. The Pergamon Kingdom was incorporated into the empire’s Asia Province, becoming one of the region’s key administrative centers. After the division of the Roman Empire into eastern and western sections in 395 CE, Pergamon remained within the borders of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire. Initially serving as a bishopric under Ephesos, the city later became a metropolitan center during this period.
Pergamon was subjected to raids by the Umayyads in the 8th century and by Turkmen in the 12th century. Byzantine rule in Bergama ended in 1302. After the collapse of the Anatolian Seljuk State, Bergama came under the rule of the Karasid Principality (Karesi Beyliği). When the Karasid Principality was annexed by the Ottoman Empire, Bergama became part of Ottoman territory. Between 1919 and 1922, Bergama was occupied by Greek forces but was liberated on September 14, 1922.
Having hosted numerous civilizations throughout its history, Bergama is one of the world’s significant cities due to its rich cultural heritage. Its multilayered cultural structure, bearing traces of the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Turkish Republic periods, was officially recognized by UNESCO in 2014. Listed as “Pergamon and Its Multilayered Cultural Landscape” on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Bergama welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.