

The design of Pergamene victory monuments is known from the literature and monument relics and is unlike that of the Pergamum Altar. Investigation of the altar's construction and friezes has led to the conclusion that it was not conceived as a monument to a particular victory. Until the second half of the 20th century it had been assumed by some scholars that the altar was endowed in 184 BC by Eumenes II after a victory over the Celtic Tolistoagian tribe and their leader Ortiagon. The Attalids were thus an emerging power with the desire to demonstrate their importance to the outside world through the construction of imposing buildings.Ĭiting the Book of Revelation chapter 2 verses 12 and 13 in the Christian Bible, many scholars have argued that the Pergamon Altar is the "Seat of Satan" mentioned by John the Apostle in his letter to the church at Pergamon. In 188 BC, Eumenes II was able to create the Treaty of Apamea as an ally of Rome, thus reducing the influence of the Seleucids in Asia Minor. His son, Eumenes II, further limited the influence of the Galatians and ruled alongside his brother Attalus II, who succeeded him.

Since the Seleucids were becoming stronger in the east, Attalus turned his attention westward to Greece and was able to occupy almost all of Euboea. A Seleucid counteroffensive under Antiochos III reached the gates of Pergamon but could not put an end to Pergamene independence. With conquests in Asia Minor at the expense of the weakened Seleucids he could briefly increase the size of his kingdom. This victory over the Galatians, a threat to the Pergamene kingdom, secured his power, which he then attempted to consolidate.
Greek god helios bust replica full#
Attalus I, successor and nephew of Eumenes I, was the first to achieve full independence for the territory and proclaimed himself king after his victory over the Celtic Galatians in 228 BC. The Pergamene kingdom founded by Philetaerus at the beginning of the 3rd century BC was initially part of the Hellenistic Seleucid empire. The altar in antiquity Historical background Larger-than-life sculptured head presumably of Attalus I, from early in the reign of Eumenes II. The relief panels from the Pergamon Altar were subsequently transferred to Berlin, where they were placed on display in the Pergamon Museum. In 1878, the German engineer Carl Humann started official excavations on the acropolis of Pergamon, an effort that lasted until 1886.

In a set of consecutive scenes, it depicts events from the life of Telephus, legendary founder of the city of Pergamon and son of the hero Heracles and Auge, one of Tegean king Aleus's daughters. There was a second, smaller and less well-preserved high relief frieze on the inner court walls which surrounded the actual fire altar on the upper level of the structure at the top of the stairs. The base was decorated with a frieze in high relief showing the battle between the Giants and the Olympian gods known as the Gigantomachy. The Pergamon Altar ( Ancient Greek: Βωμός τῆς Περγάμου) was a monumental construction built during the reign of the Ancient Greek King Eumenes II in the first half of the 2nd century BC on one of the terraces of the acropolis of Pergamon in Asia Minor. Side view Carl Humann's 1881 plan of the Pergamon acropolis Ancient Greek building from Pergamon, now in Berlin The Pergamon Altar reconstructed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.
