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Carol 202 | profile | all galleries >> World Travel >> Turkey from 2007 to 2009 >> Izmir: Jan 08 >> Pergamon tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Pergamon

Our guide and driver picked us up on Saturday and we made the 90 minute drive to Pergamon. There are two main parts to Pergamon, the Acropolis and the hospital or spa which is five miles away. You go through the town of Bergamon to get from one to the other. Bergamon is known for it's carpets and I wish we had time to shop, but we didn't stop. The Acropolis used to have a great Temple of Zeus on the hill that must have been magnificent to see. You can still see it, but it's in Berlin. Our guide was philosophical about the loss. He said that since an Ottoman ruler gave it to the Germans the Turks can't take it back; plus, the Germans are taking better care of it than the Turks probably could. The Asclepion or hospital was run by a man who once did surgery on gladiators. Unknown to prospective patients, he would only accept you into his clinic for care if you could walk the length of the road called the "Sacred Way". He didn't want patients that were going to die on him and ruin his good reputation!
Bob in front of the Acropolis at Pergamon.
Bob in front of the Acropolis at Pergamon.		 This is a water spout from the facade of a building. As water drained from the rooftop, it flowed from the lion's mouth.
This is a water spout from the facade of a building. As water drained from the rooftop, it flowed from the lion's mouth.		 Reliefs on the temple at the Acropolis
Reliefs on the temple at the Acropolis		 Theater at Pergamon
Theater at Pergamon
Quarters of the monks that tended the temples at Pergamon.
Quarters of the monks that tended the temples at Pergamon.		 Bob and Carol at the Acropolis in Pergamon
Bob and Carol at the Acropolis in Pergamon		 Pergamon Acropolis
Pergamon Acropolis		 Bob at the theater in Pergamon
Bob at the theater in Pergamon
Looking at the Acropolis from the Asclepion.
Looking at the Acropolis from the Asclepion.		 Theater at the Asclepion and pillars along the Sacred Way.
Theater at the Asclepion and pillars along the "Sacred Way".		 Asclepion was a hospital/spa. The patients could relax at the theater while being treated.
Asclepion was a hospital/spa. The patients could relax at the theater while being treated.		 Underground corriodor to hospital. As patients walked, they heard voices of gods telling them to buy the medicines.
Underground corriodor to hospital. As patients walked, they heard voices of gods telling them to buy the medicines.
The hospital was a round building. The holes are from earthquakes.
The hospital was a round building. The holes are from earthquakes.		 Another view of the hospital at Pergamon.
Another view of the hospital at Pergamon.		 Beautiful marble pillar.
Beautiful marble pillar.		 Snakes were a symbol of doctors and health care.
Snakes were a symbol of doctors and health care.

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