Pergamon Trajan Temple — Upper Acropolis Traianeum Sanctuary
Trajaneum Pergamon · Temple of Trajan
Hellenistic Attalid to Roman Hadrianic (300 BCE – 130 CE)·Attalid Pergamene to Roman Asia provincial·🇹🇷 Izmir Province, Bergama district, Pergamon Acropolis upper terrace behind Zeus altar base, Turkey
About
About Pergamon Trajan Temple — Upper Acropolis Traianeum Sanctuary
Hadrianic Traianeum sanctuary on the upper terrace of the Pergamon acropolis (335 m) behind the Great Altar of Zeus, featuring the Temple of Trajan (with Hadrian added) peripteros 9×18 Corinthian columns 18 m, vaulted terrace substructure 60×40 m and monumental propylon 12 m. Part of UNESCO 1457. Excavated 1878 Carl Humann.
Why it mattersTraianeum on Zeus acropolis shows Roman imperial staging atop Hellenistic victory monument
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Trajan vs Hadrian dedicant priority
- 02Vaulted substructure Greek or Roman technique
Theories
- 01Attalid–Roman imperial continuity
- 02Acropolis as political theatre
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Great Altar 166 BCE; Trajaneum 98–130 CE hull
- Period
- Hellenistic Attalid to Roman Hadrianic (300 BCE – 130 CE)
- Culture
- Attalid Pergamene to Roman Asia provincial
- Purpose
- Imperial cult temple for Trajan as Zeus Philios
- Abandoned
- c.262 Gothic sack
- Excavation
- Excavated
166 BCE
Zeus altar built by Eumenes II
98 CE
Trajan accession
117
Hadrian completes temple
On the ground
Structures & features
39.1310° N · 27.1840° E · 335 m · 3 mapped features
Temple Peristasis
temple9×18 Corinthian colonnade podium 4 m high
39.1312° N · 27.1843° EVaulted Terrace Substructure
substructure60 m vaulted cryptoporticus supporting temple
39.1309° N · 27.1838° EMonumental Propylon
propylon12 m Corinthian propylon with Trajanic architrave
39.1314° N · 27.1845° E