European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 23, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pergamum s huge theater dwarfs three visitors making their Way Down from the top Row to the stage. The modern City of Bergama is visible at right Ancien pergamum continued from Page 3 an agricultural Center and has a Long tradition of carpet making. The acropolis perched 1,300 feet above Bergama a As if its wings were spread to protect it a is the highest Point of the ancient City. A Small winding Road leads from the Northern end of Bergama where signs Point up to the Aero pol at the top of the Mountain there is a parking area and a ticket office that charges a Small fee to enter the acropolis. A Footpath leads through the City Wall to the ruins and arrows painted on rocks Point the Way around the site. One of the most impressive edifices on the acropolis is the Temple of Trajan the largest Temple in pergamum currently being restored to its original design by a German firm. Most of the columns surrounding the Temple have been re erected and the vaulted substructure completely restored. On a Bright Day the impressive White Marble gleams in the sunlight while the wind gushes up the Mountainside and whips across your face. During the roman Empire it was a great Honor for a City to possess an Imperial Temple. It was difficult to get the emperor s permission to build a Temple so main cities within an Empire competed for the Honor of becoming a Neo Koros a City with the authority to build an Imperial Temple. Having an Imperial Temple was More of a matter of prestige than of religion. Pergamum competed with Ephesus and Smyra Izmir and according to legend spared no expense or Effort to obtain the Honor. Emperor Augustus gave the City his permission to build two temples one for the emperor and one for Rome. After Augustus death the Pergament feared losing the Neok Groship and their prestige among the ephesians and the Smyrni ans but new emperor Trajan was persuaded to let the project proceed. He died before it was completed but the next emperor Hadrian declared the authority still valid and the Pergament built the Temple of Trajan on the most prominent Section of the acropolis. The elaborate White Marble Structure looming Over buildings made mostly of Gray and Pale Pink Andesite could be seen from anywhere in the City. Statues of both Hadrian and Trajan were erected and it is said that certain fragments assumed to be parts of those statues have been found during excavations. Great Heaters were As much a part of life Back then As temples were. There were three monumental ones built in pergamum at different times a the most important being the one built on the acropolis in the hellenistic Era. It extends upward like a fan. The 10,000-person seating Section drops at a spectacular Angle to the stage nearly 120 feet below and there Are excellent views out Over the town. The ruins of the theater Wall Are on the left As you enter the City and a narrow passage leads to the top of the theater. Tourists also can enter from the opposite Side. The altar of zeus or the great altar is said to be the most important Monument on the acropolis dating from the hellenistic Era. From the theater the altar is just to the left where it could be viewed in All its splendor from the Elinus Valley in the West the cetus Valley in the East and from the lower City. Turkish historians say it was constructed in 190 . In the Golden age of the Pergament kingdom. It was built in gratitude to zeus and Athena following the kingdom s Victory Over the galatians. Starting in 1871, German Engineer Carl Humann discovered some of its architectural elements and other parts. In years following other fragments were found and taken to Berlin where the altar was reconstructed. Today Pine Trees Shade the foundation of the altar All that is left of it on the acropolis. There Are numerous other ancient City Sites to explore atop the Mountain. One could easily spend a Day letting the imagination wander creating a world from thousands of years ago. Over the last 100 years excavations have unearthed Only two thirds of the City. Excavation of the new theater the Amphitheater and the stadium which Are but a few of the most important monuments of the roman Era have yet to begin. The ongoing work is not unusual in Turkey where history continues to be uncovered. History Buff Taylor said he is monitoring a Quot new dig Quot rear Izmir travelling at least once a month to observe the Progress of a roman theater taking in its first rays of sunlight after nearly 2,000 years. Americans living in Turkey say they Quot feel fortunate Quot at having an ancient culture so close that they can experience it in ways others can Only imagine. For example High school seniors can anticipate graduation ceremonies in such unusual locations As Heaters that had been buried More than 2,000 years. Izmir High school commencements have been held at Ephesus and this year the ceremony will be at pergamum. Quot the kids look Forward to it Quot said principal Terry Emerson. Quot when they come As juniors and hear where they will graduate they look Forward to staying for two years if they re Here earlier they Don t get that Chance and some feel they be been left out of something  senior Susan Casey said both her brother and sister had graduated in one of the old Heaters and she could t imagine not doing the same. 4 stripes Magazine april 23, 1992