Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Roman sarcophagus from the 2nd century AD, showing scenes from the story of Medea
Figures on the Pergamon Altar
Eastern Altar Frieze
The eastern side of the altar
frieze - the side first lit up by the
rising sun - depicts the battle
between the gods and the giants.
The Goddess Athena
The goddess Athena is also
shown on the eastern frieze, as
a powerful figure of light who
drags her opponents to their
deaths by their hair.
The God Apollo on
the Eastern Frieze
Like no other deity on the
altar, the god Apollo is
depicted as a noble man of
ideal beauty, thus bearing
witness to the artistic
mastery of Classical
sculpture in Greece.
The Gods of the Sea
Three pairs of sea gods
are depicted on the stair-
case frieze (on the north-
ern staircase): Doris and
Nereus, Oceanus and
Tethys as well as Triton and
Amphitrite.
The Titaness Phoebe
An impressive figure
depicted on the southern
frieze, Phoebe is shown,
with her daughter Asteria,
fighting an enormous giant with
a torch, sword and lance.
The Goddess
Aphrodite
Victorious, the fighting
goddess rises proudly
above two dead giants.
Athena
Statues of Women
Larger-than-life figures of
women, found near the altar in
the excavations, are displayed in
front of the Pergamon Altar.
Zeus in Battle
On the eastern frieze, the
father of all the gods on Mount
Olympus fights three giants at
the same time. Zeus is armed
for this battle with his most
dangerous weapons - thunder
and lightning.
The Beisser Group
The so-called Beisser Group
on the northern frieze is a group
of unknown deities. One god,
almost defeated, desperately
tries to fight off a giant who has
clamped his teeth into his arm.
Telephos Frieze
The frieze in the upper altar
courtyard depicts Telephos, son
of Hercules. The kings of Perga-
mon thought themselves to be
descended from Telephos and
worshipped him accordingly.
The goddess Athena in the altar frieze
For more on Berlin museums
see pp46-7
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