Other meanings of Pergamon Altar
Ancient Architecture
The Pergamon Altar is a monumental religious structure built in the 2nd century BCE in the ancient Greek city of Pergamon (modern-day Bergama, Turkey). It is celebrated for its grand Ionic colonnade and a frieze depicting the Gigantomachy, the battle between the Olympian gods and the Giants. The altar was excavated in the late 19th century and is now the centerpiece of the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, where its reconstruction has made it one of the most visited artifacts of classical antiquity.
The altar was commissioned by King Eumenes II of the Attalid dynasty to commemorate a military victory, likely over the Galatians or the Seleucids. It stood on an acropolis terrace, dominating the city's sacred area. The structure was later incorporated into a Byzantine wall, which preserved its reliefs. In 1878, German engineer Carl Humann began excavations, and the frieze slabs were transported to Berlin. The altar was reconstructed in the Pergamon Museum, opening to the public in 1930. During World War II, the museum was bombed, but the altar survived, and it was later returned from Soviet custody in 1958.
The altar stood on a high podium, approached by a wide staircase that cut through the colonnaded structure. The Great Frieze, running around the base, depicts the Gigantomachy with over 100 figures, including gods like Zeus, Athena, and Heracles. The style is dramatic, with deep carving and intense emotion, characteristic of the Pergamene school. A smaller frieze inside the colonnade tells the story of Telephus, the mythical founder of Pergamon. The altar's design influenced later Roman and Renaissance architecture, and its sculptural style is considered a masterpiece of Hellenistic art.
The altar served as a symbol of Attalid power and cultural ambition, rivaling the great sanctuaries of Greece. It was also a testament to the city's role as a center of learning, with its library second only to Alexandria. The Gigantomachy frieze allegorically represented the victory of civilization over barbarism, echoing the Attalids' own victories. The altar's placement on the acropolis linked the dynasty to the gods, reinforcing their divine right to rule. Its later removal to Berlin sparked debates about cultural heritage and repatriation, with Turkey requesting the return of the altar since the 1990s.
Beyond the main frieze, the altar featured a smaller Telephus frieze that is less studied but equally significant. The altar's foundation included a hidden chamber, possibly used for cult rituals. The Gigantomachy frieze includes a rare depiction of the goddess Nyx, who is not commonly shown in such scenes. The altar's reconstruction in Berlin is not entirely accurate; some fragments were placed incorrectly, and the current arrangement is a modern interpretation. The altar's original polychromy was vivid, with bright colors that have since faded, altering its appearance. The altar also influenced the design of the Nazi-era architecture, notably the Zeppelinfeld in Nuremberg, which borrowed its monumental steps.
The Pergamon Altar is a UNESCO World Heritage site component, and its repatriation remains a subject of international debate.
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