Pergamum was a small settlement during the archaic period. It is mentioned by Homer in The Ilıad—he reports that the god Zeus travelled from Mount Olympus to Pergamum to watch the Trojan War.

The Great Altar of Pergamum is in the Pergamum Museum in Berlin. The base of this altar exists.

The library on the north was from the Hellenistic era. It was the largest in the ancient Greek civilization. Mark Antonia gave the whole collection to Cleopatra as wedding present.

The remains near the library are some houses from the Hellenistic period.

The famous altar of Zeus in Pergamum is on the south of the theatre. It was constructed as a memorial of the victory against Galatians. The altar is exhibited in Berlin Museum.

The theatre of Pergamum has a capacity of 10,000 spectators; this had the steepest seating of any known theatre in the ancient world. The temple of Dionysus nearby the theatre has an exquisite appearance.

The gymnasium was also a place for socializing and engaging in intellectual pursuits.

Asclepius was on the south of Acropolis. The complex was containing small theatre, rooms for patients where cured by the sound of water and music. The dreams of patients were analyzed. Galen was the most famous doctor of Asclepius.

Serapis temple is another notable structure from the A.D 1st century.

The lower part of Pergamum was consisting Agora, school of sculpture and houses.

Roman period settlements are on the northwest of Pergamum. There was an amphitheatre with a capacity of 50,000 and a theatre for 30,000 spectators.

Pergamum was occupied from the archaic period but was particularly powerful in Hellenistic and Roman times. Excavations in Pergamum are conducted by German archeologists. Carl Human discovered the Pergamum Altar.

Bergame museum in the town is the first archeological museum in Turkey. Findings from the excavations in Pergamum are displayed.