Pergamum

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Pergamon, Capital of a Hellenistic kingdom of the same name in Anatolia (Turkey) dating to 283-133 BC. The site is fine example of Hellenistic town planning with buildings terraced up to the palace and the acropolis. There was monumental planning and design and sculpture in baroque style culminating in frieze of Altar of Zeus. In 133 BC, Attalus III bequeathed his kingdom to Rome, who made it the province of Asia. The Attalid kings had invested much of their wealth in Pergamum, making it a center for literature, the arts, and the sciences; their library rivaled Alexandria with 200,000 volumes (many written on parchment). The Attalid dynasty fortress and palace stood on the peak of the hill, while the town itself occupied the lower slopes. Under the Roman Empire the city was situated on the plain below. In the Roman period there was extensive new building and rebuilding. Hadrian restyled the round, domed Temple of Asklepios and built a temple of Trajan.

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