Pergamon ruins, Bergama, Turkey
Mon 14 Jul 2014
Off the tourist track a short distance is the Pergamon ruins, acropolis, fortifications and more.
Incredible for the amount of labour that went into the construction over the centuries, its impressive from just about every angle. Its seems that somehow they got the water to run up hill drawing from a source 45 kilometres away.
Getting there.
Its less than 7 km from Bergama making for a short eventful drive. If you have a car you can avoid the hill base parking and cable car ride, instead heading up one narrow corner and then around the other side of the hill to the top. The pleasant guys in the car park will mistake you for German if you have a German number plate (this has happened a number of times on the trip).
Entry
5 TL to park, 25 TL to enter
The site
On basic appraisal it seems like a bunch of broken walls, until you start to walk around and appreciate the enormous effort that the ancients went to for the construction the centuries.
Reconstruction in part of walls, some of the Acropolis, the amphitheater gives more than a fair idea of the architecture and lifestyle of these guys worshiping their gods high on the hill top as close too their gods as they can get.
Around the site there is also details about the vault chambers employed by the ancient architects and engineers to build a light, material saving supporting structure for the acropolis... to take the time out you can see that once again they went a lot of trouble, lifted some very heavy blocks, etc. Even the large "staple looking" metal pins they used to lock the blocks together are impressive for their number and detail.
High on the Western side is the Armory and a view to the modern dam below. A ditch goes across the next field and to an aquaduct. Details related are hard to believe. 45km of pipe works in very ancient times, upgraded by the Romans with the Aquaduct. Interesting to see that they used Lead pipe and lead sealing in the system. The effects unknown of Lead poisoning back in the day must have ensured that they went slowly stupid.... and one wonders if they went stupid at the same rate, unrealising they were going silly... to the point of the three stooges, slapping each others face, etc... and in theory the maths and architecture should have gone out the window.
Related Links:
Permagon ruins, Bergama, Turkey Acropolis panoramic Amplitheatre panorama Ruins and dam panorama| Story by: John Nayler Profile John Nayler has been a flat-out-traveller for almost 20 years. 37 countries, but who's counting - he is likely to have been there, done that AND probably recorded something about it. You want entertaining answers? You have come to the right place. |
_Other Stories
Other Stories How was a Tesla 3 tour of New Zealand Tesla Road Kill - Will the Model 3 stop in time? Tesla Model 3 leaving Invercargill, New Zealand The Tesla Driving Experience in New Zealand How to drive a Tesla 101 Driving New Zealand in a Tesla How to charge a Tesla in New Zealand BlazeAid - Restoring farm fencing at Moruya, NSW What is bareboating? - Edward, Charter Yachts Australia Robertson Caine 40 - Dolce Vita walkthru Come bareboating with Charter Yachts Australia Queensland open for tourism - Speaking with Annie Judd, CYA Where are the grey nomads this year? Greg McKinnon What's the flow-on effect of lack of tourists in the Whitsundays? - Woody, Whitsunday Ocean Services What is the future of restauranting and cafes in Airlie Beach? Kevin Collins, Fish D'Vine What's the state of the Whitsunday bareboat industry? - Interview with Trevor Rees How is business in Airlie Beach? Interview with Lyn Gregson Why are tourism operators in Airlie Beach so devastated right now? - Sharon Smallwood Honkers - freedom camping New Zealand Greek Sail 27th August - 10 September 2016 How to working holiday backpack in Australia with 100+ great tips Last minute bareboat charter sailing in Greece via Athens. Bodrum, the Turkish Riveria Coming ashore at Gallipoli 99 years on - Anzac Tourist Pergamon ruins, Bergama, Turkey Pamukkale, Turkey itinerary and accommodation recommendation Kilic Ali Pasa Hamam - Turkish cleanse and massage Mikla, Roof Top Dining in Istanbul, Turkey East Coast Australia's 9 Best Surf Spots For Newbie's Top 10 Cologne Karneval Do's and Don'ts 10 Reasons To Visit Hong Kong Hidemyass VPN review for using Gumtree.com.au from overseas Okinawa - Gold Coast, Great Barrier Reef, Japan Internet access in Japan with Rental 3G WIFI Swisscom Pocket Connect Wifi internet 3g rental test report Montpellier - Southern France imagined San Fermin, Pamplona - The celebration of Stupidity. Costa Brava Cruising, Catalunya 6 ways to enjoy Barcelona without being pick pocketed Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain Traveling light by Adrian Cahill Montseny, Top of the world, Cataluna, Spain Barcelona Breakfast on the Rambla de Cataluna Shanghai 72 Toscana Village Resort, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays Best Travel Websites Volunteering around the world Top gadgets to travel with Free Accomodation Hostels and the future of them! Cheap Airfares: How to get low fares? Does getting the Israel Passport Stamp scare you? Cool undiscovered city: Sofia, Bulgaria Freedom Bar, Chiang Mai, Thailand