Pergamon
Pergamon, the kingdom of Attalos II (r. 159–138BCE), was one of
those born in the early third centuryBCEafter the breakup of
Alexander’s empire. Founded by Philetairos, the Pergamene king-
dom embraced almost all of western and southern Asia Minor.
Upon the death in 133BCEof its last king, Attalos III (r. 138–
133 BCE), Pergamon was bequeathed to Rome, which by then was the
greatest power in the Mediterranean world. The Attalids enjoyed im-
mense wealth, and much of it was expended on embellishing their
capital city, especially its acropolis. Located there were the royal
palace, an arsenal and barracks, a great library and theater, an agora,
and the sacred precincts of Athena and Zeus.
ALTAR OF ZEUS, PERGAMON The Altar of Zeus at Per-
gamon, erected about 175BCE, is the most famous Hellenistic sculp-
tural ensemble. The monument’s west front (FIG. 5-78) has been
reconstructed in Berlin. The altar proper was on an elevated plat-
form and framed by an Ionic stoalike colonnade with projecting
wings on either side of a broad central staircase. All around the altar
platform was a sculpted frieze almost 400 feet long, populated by
about a hundred larger-than-life-size figures. The subject is the bat-
tle of Zeus and the gods against the giants. It is the most extensive
representation Greek artists ever attempted of that epic conflict for
control of the world. A similar subject appeared on the shield of
Phidias’s Athena Parthenos and on some of the Parthenon metopes,
where the Athenians wished to draw a parallel between the defeat of
the giants and the defeat of the Persians. In the third centuryBCE,
King Attalos I (r. 241–197BCE) had successfully turned back an inva-
sion of the Gauls in Asia Minor. The gigantomachy of the Altar of
Zeus alluded to that Pergamene victory over those barbarians.5-77Stoa of Attalos II, Agora, Athens, Greece, ca. 150 bce(with the Acropolis in the background).
The Stoa of Attalos II in the Athenian agora has been meticulously restored. Greek stoas were covered colonnades that housed shops and civic
offices. They were also ideal vehicles for shaping urban spaces.
5-78Reconstructed west front of the Altar of Zeus, Pergamon, Turkey, ca. 175 bce.Staatliche Museen, Berlin.
The gigantomachy frieze of Pergamon’s monumental Altar of Zeus is almost 400 feet long. The battle of gods and giants alluded to the victory of
King Attalos I over the Gauls of Asia Minor.
Hellenistic Period 147