TEMPLE OF TRAJAN IN PERGAMON CITY!
One of the most magnificent Roman-period buildings in Pergamon was constructed in honor of Emperor Trajan. It is believed that the Temple of Trajan was built atop an earlier Hellenistic structure.
The temple was commissioned by Emperor Hadrian, Trajan’s successor, who ruled from 117 to 138 AD. Its design features Corinthian architecture, with six columns at the front and back and nine on each side, and is almost entirely made of marble, unlike the earlier Hellenistic structures built with andesite stone.
During excavations, the heads of two colossal statues representing Trajan and Hadrian were uncovered. These are now exhibited in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. It is believed that, like Trajan, Hadrian was also worshiped in this temple, reflecting the reverence held for these Roman emperors in Pergamon.
To continue reading about Pergamon, click the link below: Pergamon!
[2025 Update] The Trajaneum — the Temple of Trajan at the summit of the Pergamon Acropolis — is one of the most photogenic ancient Roman structures in Turkey in 2025, particularly striking against the backdrop of the Aegean landscape stretching to the horizon. Partially reconstructed columns give visitors a powerful sense of the temple’s original magnificence, dedicated to both the Emperor Trajan and the Emperor Hadrian. The hilltop setting of the Acropolis, reached via the cable car (teleferik) from the lower town, makes the entire complex — and the Trajaneum in particular — one of the most dramatic ancient sites in the whole of western Turkey. Allow at least half a day to do the Acropolis justice.
CATEGORIES
