DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0609
HISTORY OF THE GREAT ALTAR. 573
tent with these expressions of thanks for victory to the gods. His fancy
should take still other flights in ideal creations of great power, absolute beauty,
and imposing size, revealed to us in the sculptures of the "Great Altar,"
recently discovered at Pergamon, and now in the Berlin Museum. Here the
tragedy of the ruthless Galatians seems mirrored in the tremendous conflicts
of gods with giants.
THE GREAT ALTAR AT PERGAMON.
The recently discovered sculptures from Pergamon, now in the Berlin
Museum, come to us like a sudden revelation from the Hellenistic age, and have
an importance for this period equal to that of the Parthenon marbles for the
Pheidian age. Owing to the absolute certainty as to the originality and date
of these works, combined with their great extent and diversity, as well as pris-
tine freshness, unmarred by the restorer's hand, untold light is thrown on this
later period, and a certain gauge is offered for its more obscure works.
It was during the rule of Eumenes II., Attalos' great son, lasting well-nigh
forty years, from 197 to 159 B.C., that the Pergamon kingdom reached its
zenith. Eumenes, having been allied with the Romans after the successful
battle of Magnesia, 190 B.C., greatly extended his boundaries to the south-east,
and at home encouraged science by the founding of a library rivalling even the
collections of the Ptolemies in Alexandria. In addition, this monarch, as
Strabo informs us in a tantalizingly short sentence, adorned his capital with
magnificent structures; and the recent discovery at Delphi of a decree made
by the Aitolians, at the request of Eumenes, has happily thrown further light
on the great activity of this prince. "+2 From this decree it appears, that, after
his military successes and the consolidation of his dominion, Eumenes rendered
more glorious old rites, and perhaps established new ones, by the celebration of
competitive games, and by extensive offerings to Athena Nikephoros, and
secured to the sacred precincts (Temetios) of Athena at Pergamon the inviola-
bility of asylum. Sending over three ambassadors to sacred Delphi, the mon-
arch craved a recognition of ail these pious services; and the decree was
accordingly set up, which has now been brought to light. By means of it we
obtain a glimpse of the monarch, in the fulness of his power, making signal
thank-offerings for his successes.
On the Pergamon Acropolis, which was there popularly believed to be the
birthplace of Zeus and of Athena, stood the most sacred buildings. Mention
has already been made of the severely archaic temple, situated just below the
summit, sacred to Athena Polias (p. 565), and doubtless the oldest shrine.
But, with the elevation of the city to the rank of the capital of a great king-
dom, such primitive buildings must have become insufficient; and an open-air
altar, imposing in size and glorious in significant decorations, was raised at the
foot of the ancient shrine, before which the sacrificial smoke should ever rise.
tent with these expressions of thanks for victory to the gods. His fancy
should take still other flights in ideal creations of great power, absolute beauty,
and imposing size, revealed to us in the sculptures of the "Great Altar,"
recently discovered at Pergamon, and now in the Berlin Museum. Here the
tragedy of the ruthless Galatians seems mirrored in the tremendous conflicts
of gods with giants.
THE GREAT ALTAR AT PERGAMON.
The recently discovered sculptures from Pergamon, now in the Berlin
Museum, come to us like a sudden revelation from the Hellenistic age, and have
an importance for this period equal to that of the Parthenon marbles for the
Pheidian age. Owing to the absolute certainty as to the originality and date
of these works, combined with their great extent and diversity, as well as pris-
tine freshness, unmarred by the restorer's hand, untold light is thrown on this
later period, and a certain gauge is offered for its more obscure works.
It was during the rule of Eumenes II., Attalos' great son, lasting well-nigh
forty years, from 197 to 159 B.C., that the Pergamon kingdom reached its
zenith. Eumenes, having been allied with the Romans after the successful
battle of Magnesia, 190 B.C., greatly extended his boundaries to the south-east,
and at home encouraged science by the founding of a library rivalling even the
collections of the Ptolemies in Alexandria. In addition, this monarch, as
Strabo informs us in a tantalizingly short sentence, adorned his capital with
magnificent structures; and the recent discovery at Delphi of a decree made
by the Aitolians, at the request of Eumenes, has happily thrown further light
on the great activity of this prince. "+2 From this decree it appears, that, after
his military successes and the consolidation of his dominion, Eumenes rendered
more glorious old rites, and perhaps established new ones, by the celebration of
competitive games, and by extensive offerings to Athena Nikephoros, and
secured to the sacred precincts (Temetios) of Athena at Pergamon the inviola-
bility of asylum. Sending over three ambassadors to sacred Delphi, the mon-
arch craved a recognition of ail these pious services; and the decree was
accordingly set up, which has now been brought to light. By means of it we
obtain a glimpse of the monarch, in the fulness of his power, making signal
thank-offerings for his successes.
On the Pergamon Acropolis, which was there popularly believed to be the
birthplace of Zeus and of Athena, stood the most sacred buildings. Mention
has already been made of the severely archaic temple, situated just below the
summit, sacred to Athena Polias (p. 565), and doubtless the oldest shrine.
But, with the elevation of the city to the rank of the capital of a great king-
dom, such primitive buildings must have become insufficient; and an open-air
altar, imposing in size and glorious in significant decorations, was raised at the
foot of the ancient shrine, before which the sacrificial smoke should ever rise.