The Asclepius situated below the Acropolis had an ancient hospital for the mentally ill. Galen the most fanous doctor in the ancient Roman Empire and personal physician to Emperor Marcus Aurelius practised there.
Pergamum's library at the Acropolis was the second best in the ancient Greek civilisation. There were 200,000 volumes in the library. Mark Anthony took the whole collection to Alexandria in Egypt as a wedding gift for Cleopatra. Parchment (pergaminus or pergamena) was invented here when there was a lack of papyrus for writing.
The beginning of the colonnaded sacred way leading to the sanctuary proper. |
People with health problems would bathe in the water of the sacred spring. |
The entrance to the tunnel. |
The tunnel leading to an ancient hospital. Psychotherapy was practised here. The physician would speak to the patient through the window above as he walked inside the tunnel in darkness. |
Rooms in the hospital. |
The Acropolis of Pergamum on a hill as seen from Asclepius. |
A Great Altar of Pergamum dedicated to Zeus was found in the Acropolis . John the apostle may have referred to this altar as the "Satan's Throne" in his Book of Revelation. |