another view of the Theatre, one of the steepest in the world
and there are plenty more steep places to the left of us
a view of Bergama from the upper Acropolis
the ceremonial ablation fountain is situated within the mosque
time to rest against a milennia old pilar
but repairs are under way
the Hellenistic theater provides ample seats for us
Bursa and Pergamon
Bursa was the first capital of the Ottoman State and a place of spiritual importance. Hence the city sports many mosques, of which the Ulu Cami Grand  Mosque is the largest. Built in 1399 by Sultan Bayesid I, this mosque is a fine example of early Ottoman architecture. The ablution fountain to wash-up is located inside the mosque.
 
Close to present day Bergama loom the ruins of Pergamon, once an important and wealthy Hellenistic city.
Dating back to at least the 8th century BC, the city was first mentioned by Xenophon in 399 BC when he successfully ended the March of the Ten Thousand here.
 
Under Roman rule Pergamon became an important spa and healing center. 
The Library was second only to the one in Alexandria. Notable other structures are the Temple of Athena, the Trajaneum, the steep Theatre and the Pergamon Altar.
 
An earthquake in 262 AD and a sacking by the Goths drove the city into decline. 
Persians Arabs and Byzantines further left their destructive marks and what remained was taken over by the Ottomans.
 
We visited Bursa and the Pergamon ruins in August 1996.
website176058.jpg website176057.jpg website176056.jpg website176055.jpg website176054.jpg website176053.jpg website176052.jpg website176051.jpg website176050.jpg website176049.jpg website176048.jpg website176047.jpg website176007.gif website176045.gif website176044.gif
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
end
website176008.gif website176006.gif
waiting at the Bursa Mosque
website176007.gif website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif
3
website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif
he lost his head a long long time ago
website176008.gif website176007.gif website176006.gif
this is all that remains from the temple of Trajan
website176005.jpg website176004.jpg website176003.jpg website176002.jpg website176001.gif