Library of Pergamum

The Library of Pergamon was founded around 200 BC and included a portfolio of around 200 000 roles.

The library of Pergamum, the capital of the Hellenistic dynasty of the Attalids was - according to the Library of Alexandria - the second most important library of the ancient world. Together with this, she coined the philology in antiquity.

The founding date of the library of Pergamum is unknown. It is believed that the establishment already on King Attalos I. ( 241-197 BC) is declining. About the book inventory, there are no reliable sources. The ancient message, Mark Antony Cleopatra had brought from the holdings of the Library of Pergamon 200 000 scrolls, in the specialized science is legendary. Witnessed is a catalog, the Pergamon panels ( " Pinakes " ), following the example of Alexandria. That was in charge of the philosopher and grammarian Crates of Mallos with the establishment of the library of Pergamum, has been suspected but can not be locked. As a librarian testified name is only Athenodoros Stoics of Tarsus in the early 1st century BC As early as 133 BC, the kingdom of Pergamon, and with him the library as an inheritance had passed into the possession of Rome. About the end of the library of Pergamum is not known.

In the excavation of ancient ruins on the acropolis of Pergamon by German archaeologists in the second half of the 19th century the sanctuary of Athena was exposed. In its northern portico of the library is located. The Athena sanctuary was ( 197-158 BC) built by King Eumenes II. On the upper floor of the portico, an approximately 13 x 16 meters large hall located with surrounding podium, where a 3 -meter-high marble statue of the goddess stood, which is now in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin ( there also Architecture samples of the porticoes of the sanctuary ). It is believed that on the podium wooden cabinets were set up for the book rolls. It has also been suggested that two marble niche architectures with Doric and Ionic columns (also in the Pergamon Museum ) represent wall bookcases, which on the podium free-standing wood cabinets had met in shape. Such a wooden cabinet has been nachgeschreinert and shown at various exhibitions; whether the ancient form is actually taken, remains uncertain. Three subsequent to the podium room smaller rooms are kept for storage rooms.

The identification of the library in the North Hall of the Athena sanctuary is, there is clear evidence of the use of missing, not remained undisputed. At the beginning of the 20th century excavations in the gymnasium of Pergamon have two inscriptions unearthed in which libraries are mentioned. Therefore one has the library also suspected there without being able to assign certain rooms.