Editing Pergamon (section)

==History of research and excavation==
[[File:Ruins of Pergamon by Christian Wilberg in 1879 (2).jpg|thumb|right|[[Christian Wilberg]]: ''Excavation area of the Pergamon Altar''. 1879 sketch.]]
The first mention of Pergamon in written records after ancient times comes from the 13th century. Beginning with [[Ciriaco de' Pizzicolli]] in the 15th century, ever more travellers visited the place and published their accounts of it. The key description is that of Thomas Smith, who visited the Levant in 1668 and transmitted a detailed description of Pergamon, to which the great 17th century travellers [[Jacob Spon]] and [[George Wheler (clergyman and scholar)|George Wheler]] were able to add nothing significant in their own accounts.<ref>''Altertümer von Pergamon''. I 1, pp. 3–4.</ref>

In the late 18th century, these visits were reinforced by a scholarly (especially ancient historical) desire for research, epitomised by [[Marie-Gabriel-Florent-Auguste de Choiseul-Gouffier]], a traveller in Asia Minor and French ambassador to the [[Sublime Porte]] in [[Istanbul]] from 1784 to 1791. At the beginning of the 19th century, [[Charles Robert Cockerell]] produced a detailed account and [[Otto Magnus von Stackelberg (archaeologist)|Otto Magnus von Stackelberg]] made important sketches.<ref>''Altertümer von Pergamon''. I 1, pp. 5–11.</ref> A proper, multi-page description with plans, elevations, and views of the city and its ruins was first produced by [[Charles Texier]] when he published the second volume of his ''Description de l'Asie mineure''.<ref>Charles Texier, ''Description de l'Asie Mineure: faite par ordre du gouvernement français en 1833–1837; beaux-arts, monuments historiques, plans et topographie des cités antiques''. Volume 2, Paris 1849, pp. 217–237, tbl. 116–127.</ref>

In 1864–5, the German engineer [[Carl Humann]] visited Pergamon for the first time. For the construction of the road from Pergamon to [[Dikili]] for which he had undertaken planning work and topographical studies, he returned in 1869 and began to focus intensively on the legacy of the city. In 1871, he organised a small expedition there under the leadership of [[Ernst Curtius]]. As a result of this short but intensive investigation, two fragments of a great frieze were discovered and transported to [[Berlin]] for detailed analysis, where they received some interest, but not a lot. It is not clear who connected these fragments with the Great Altar in Pergamon mentioned by [[Lucius Ampelius]].<ref>Lucius Ampelius, ''Liber memorialis'' 8: ''„Pergamo ara marmorea magna, alta pedes quadraginta, cum maximis sculpturis; continet autem gigantomachiam.“''</ref> However, when the archaeologist [[Alexander Conze]] took over direction of the department of ancient sculpture at the [[Berlin State Museums|Royal Museums of Berlin]], he quickly initiated a programme for the excavation and protection of the monuments connected to the sculpture, which were widely suspected to include the Great Altar.<ref>''Altertümer von Pergamon''. I 1, pp. 13–16.</ref>

[[File:Pergamon Agora 1902.jpg|thumb|right|The lower agora in 1902, during excavations]]
As a result of these efforts, Carl Humann, who had been carrying out low-level excavations at Pergamon for the previous few years and had discovered for example the architrave inscription of the Temple of Demeter in 1875, was entrusted with carry out work in the area of the altar of Zeus in 1878, where he continued to work until 1886. With the approval of the [[Ottoman Empire]], the reliefs discovered there were transported to Berlin, where the [[Pergamon Museum]] was opened for them in 1907. The work was continued by Conze, who aimed for the most complete possible exposure and investigation of the historic city and citadel that was possible. He was followed by the architectural historian [[Wilhelm Dörpfeld]] from 1900 to 1911, who was responsible for the most important discoveries. Under his leadership the Lower Agora, the House of Attalos, the Gymnasion, and the Sanctuary of Demeter were brought to light.

The excavations were interrupted by the [[First World War]] and were only resumed in 1927 under the leadership of [[Theodor Wiegand]], who remained in this post until 1939. He concentrated on further excavation of the upper city, the Asklepieion, and the [[Red Basilica]]. The [[Second World War]] also caused a break in work at Pergamon, which lasted until 1957. From 1957 to 1968, [[Erich Boehringer]] worked on the Asklepieion in particular, but also carried out important work on the lower city as a whole and performed survey work, which increased knowledge of the countryside surrounding the city. In 1971, after a short pause, [[Wolfgang Radt]] succeeded him as leader of excavations and directed the focus of research on the residential buildings of Pergamon, but also on technical issues, like the water management system of the city which supported a population of 200,000 at its height. He also carried out conservation projects which were of vital importance for maintaining the material remains of Pergamon. Since 2006, the excavations have been led by [[Felix Pirson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dainst.org/index_650_de.html |title=Darstellung der Forschungsgeschichte seit Carl Humann auf der Website des DAI |access-date=2010-11-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110072419/http://www.dainst.org/index_650_de.html |archive-date=November 10, 2010 }}</ref>

Most of the finds from the Pergamon excavations before the First World War were taken to the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, with a smaller portion going to the [[İstanbul Archaeology Museums|İstanbul Archaeological Museum]] after it was opened in 1891. After the First World War the [[Bergama Museum]] was opened, which has received all finds discovered since then.

In May 2022, archaeologists announced the discovery of a 1,800-year-old well-preserved geometric patterned floor [[mosaic]] around the Red Basilica.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agency |first=Anadolu |date=2022-05-30 |title=1,800-year-old geometric patterned mosaic found in Turkey's Pergamon |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/1800-year-old-geometric-patterned-mosaic-found-in-turkeys-pergamon |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=Daily Sabah |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-02 |title=1,800-year-old Geometric Patterned Mosaic Found In The Ancient Greek City Pergamon Now Modern Turkey – Greek City Times |url=https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/06/02/1800-year-old-geometric-patterned-mosaic-found-in-the-ancient-greek-city-pergamon-now-modern-turkey/ |access-date=2022-08-12 |language=en-US}}</ref>