Pergamon

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Pergamon

• City Planning and Spatial Drama

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History of Pergamon

• For nearly a century following its early
  inception in 399 B.C.E Pergamon remained simply a
  stronghold or fortified hilltop above the Caicus
  River
• Few Building date prior to third century B.C.E
  when the city finally underwent heavy development
  during the rule of Eumenes beginning in 263 B.C.E

View of Theatre
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Location

• City of Pergamon is largely affected by its
  location and unique terrain
• Located on western coast of Asia Minor, modern
  day Turkey
• City occupies summit and southern slope of a
  relatively steep and rocky mountain side
  overlooking the Caicus Valley

Model reconstruction of City
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Effects of Terrain on City Planning

• Architecture of Pergamon fully utilized the
  dramatic elevation of its location
• The hill rises 340meters from a base level of
  65meters
• Disregarded grid plan utilized in cities like
  Priene and Miletos due to steep terrain calling
  for complex and extensive terracing
• Straight wide streets were not ideal on the steep
  terrain. Instead a narrow main city road only
  5meters wide, winds and bends up the hillside

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Distribution of Buildings

• Key buildings are constructed in terraced
  complexes along the main city road beginning at
  the southern gate up to the acropolis
• The road extends from rear of the lower market
  building to a complex of terraced buildings
  including 3 interconnecting gymnasia, several
  temples and a fountain
• Next, the main city road reaches the acropolis
  the focal point and most spectacular portion of
  the city

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• Focal point of acropolis was the theatre
• Situated the steep sloping western side, the
  theatre was supported a massive retaining wall
• Surrounding the theatre important public
  buildings were arranged fan-like emphasizing the
  massive structure

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Monumental Buildings
The Gymnasium
The Theatre
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Emphasis on Spatial Drama

• The decision to not implement a grid plan gave
  way to the creation of a free flowing urban
  environment
• Terracing helped create spatial drama by
  positioning monumental buildings on staggered
  levels along the hillside
• Visual unity was established through dispersion
  of complexes of buildings along the length of
  hillside

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Aqueducts and Water Supply

• A public water system was created, piping water
  through an elaborate high pressure system from
  the summit of the mountain to the citys
  population below
• During Hellenistic period water was distributed
  to city through use of two main aqueducts, a
  third was a later Roman improvement
• Sewers were constructed to channel rain water
  away from the city. A major problem with such a
  steep terrain

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Origins of Pergamene Style

• While origins remain largely obscure, it is
  unlikely that the Pergamene style originated in
  Pergamon
• The plan of Pergamon was probably due in part to
  outside influences as well as the gradual
  development and refinement of the citys final
  form over a span of 150 years

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Possible Influences

• Halicarnassus, Mausolus capital. Similar to
  Pergamon in utilization of a steep terrain
  through terracing and to create a scenographic
  effect
• Focal point of city differs from Pergamon
• Alexandria, as planned by Deinocrates suggests an
  architectural as well as visual unity similar to
  Pergamon through interconnecting buildings and
  courtyards
• However, Alexandria was constructed on a grid
  plan imposing a rectangular straight order

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Bibliography

• Owens, E.J. The City in the Greek and Roman
  World. London Routledge, 1991.
• Pevsner, Nikolaus. Greek Architecture. Ed. R.A
  Tomlinson. New Haven, CT Yale University Press,
  1983.
• Tomlinson, R. A. From Mycenae to Constantinople
  the evolution of the ancient city. New York
  Routledge, 2000.