An ancient city in what is now Turkey, some 20 km (12 miles) inland from the west coast of Asia Minor. It developed into a major power during the 3rd and 2nd centuries bc under the Attalid dynasty. In particular, Attalus I (ruled 241–197), inflicted a severe defeat on the Galatians and for a time wrested most of Asia Minor from the Seleucids. He allied himself to Rome in the first two Macedonian wars and his pro-Roman policy was followed by his successors. Thus Eumenes II (died c.160) helped to defeat Antiochus at Magnesia and in accordance with Attalus III’s will the kingdom was bequeathed to Rome in 133 bc. It became a province of Asia, and was soon eclipsed by Ephesus as the chief city of the region.

Attalid Pergamum was a brilliant centre of Hellenistic civilization: its chief glories were its sculpture and its library, where parchment was developed in the 2nd century bc as a more durable material than papyrus for books.