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Pergamon

Pergamon is important because it was a major cultural, scientific, and political center in the ancient world. It was a capital of the Hellenistic Attalid dynasty and a center of Hellenistic sculpture. 
 
Significance:
 
  • Location:  Pergamon was located in the Aegean Region, at the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East.
  • Culture:  Pergamon was a center of Hellenistic culture, with a great library, theater, gymnasium, temples, and healing center.
  • Medicine:  Pergamon was a center of healing and medical science, with the Asclepeion, an ancient medical spa that attracted pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean.
  • Theater:  Pergamon had one of the steepest theaters in the world, which was an acoustic marvel.
  • Architecture:  Pergamon was a paradigm of a Hellenistic capital, with civic institutions that are central features of modern urban life. 
Other notable features
  • Pergamon was home to monumental gymnasia and numerous religious sanctuaries.
  • Pergamon was a haven for noted philosophers and artists.
  • Pergamon was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.