Altar of Zeus 1

View from above looking down on the altar of Zeus. The altar is rectangular in shape measuring 118 x 112 ft. [36 x 34 m]. The foundation stones of its lower left portion are clearly visible. The tree in the center of the image grows in the middle of the altar (!) while the two trees on the left are outside of the altar. In the background, the city of Bergama, 900 ft. [275 m.] below the citadel is visible.

The altar was built by the king Eumenes II (197–159 B.C.) in memory of the victory of Attalus I over the Celts. It originally faced west (right) on a 20 ft. [6 m.] high podium. This magnificent, well–preserved, structure was dismantled and moved, stone by stone, and reconstructed in the Staatliche Museum in Berlin.

Thus, only the foundation of the altar remains on the site of Pergamum.

To view an artistic representation of the Zeus Altar Click Here.

For a map and a brief description of Pergamum Click Here.