Day 7: Pergamum, Archie Meskhidze

Today we left the Canakkale hotel at 8, and our first destination was the Asclepion ruins. This was, in a way, an ancient hospital. We walked through the entrance of the location. A path that, in its day, would have been surrounded on both sides by little stores selling all sorts of medical trinkets, as well as offerings you would have to give up in order to enter the medical center. Once inside we learned about the actual treatments that would happen, today much more reminiscent of a rehab center than a hospital. They would analyze your dreams, both under stress and while calm. Walk you past trickling water, or sit you in a hot bath, to again calm you down. There was even a tunnel you could enter and have positive affirmations whispered to you. Saying all this Asclepion was no stranger to more advanced medical practices, with evidence of surgery procedures and hygiene rooms. 

After we left the Asclepion we made our way to the next stop, though not before we ate a nice lunch at an out-of-the-way restaurant Saba knew of. We had all sorts of Kebab, Pida, Lentil soup, and, of course, some baklava. 

Making our way to Pergamon we learned about the rich history of this city. Wedged between the days of Alexander and the start of the Roman conquest the city was originally founded by one of Alexander the Great's generals and 9000 bricks of gold. With its wealth and strategic location over the next centuries, the kingdom would expand into an empire. They had the second-largest library in the world at the time (only behind the great library of Alexandria), and they even invented parchment. 

The empire would be bequeathed to the blossoming Roman Republic by the heirless emperor at the time. Under the sole condition that the city of Pergamon would be left untouched and undisturbed by the Romans. A promise they kept for around 200 years before slapping a massive shrine to a Roman Emperor God on top. 

The city of Pergamon was built at the base and up a mountainside, with an Acropolis dedicated to BOTH Zeus and Athena (as Lynn made sure Saba clarified). The Acropolis was in incredible shape when it was first “found” and while I would love to show you the massive monuments and structures made of statue grade almost iridescent marble, the Germans sadly cut it up, put it on a plane, and flew it to Berlin where it now stays in the aptly named “Pergamon museum,” I wish I was joking, but no, they took an almost an entire Acropolis back home with them. 

Not letting this disturb us we quickly took to exploration. Walking through the massive, and numerous, arches. Walked (or rather climbed) down the steepest theatre of the ancient world, and made offerings to the Athena and Zeus Alter. giving Dionysus’ temple a visit too. 

After this, we would cable car our way back down to the base of the mountain and drive back to our hotel. Where we would enjoy a nice lunch, finish up our class work, and get a good night's rest in for tommorows packed day!