Ancient Ruler Eumenes II and the Illustrious Library of Pergamon
Pergamon, a city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), dates back to at least the Archaic Period in Greece. One of its most significant contributions to history was the invention of parchment, a writing material that revolutionised the ancient world.
Parchment, a durable and high-quality writing material made from treated animal hides, was invented in the 2nd century BCE, reportedly in Pergamon. The impetus behind this innovation was the desire to create an alternative to Egypt's papyrus, which was subject to export restrictions or a shortage imposed by Egyptian rulers.
The Library of Pergamon, a major centre of learning in the ancient world, was the primary beneficiary of this technological advancement. The scholars of Pergamon developed parchment to equip their library with a superior writing material, thereby empowering text preservation.
The Library of Pergamon, established by Attalid King Eumenes II around 197 BCE, was no doubt damaged in an earthquake of 262 CE, but evidence suggests it was still in operation during the early years of the Byzantine Empire. The library's rooms were lined with wooden shelves for holding scrolls, and a 20-inch space was left between the outer walls and the shelves to allow air circulation. Doorways in the stacks opened onto the colonnade, allowing patrons to take books out into the daylight for ease in reading.
The most popular literary works in the library were Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, with Iliad in greater demand, and the works of Euripides. There is no record of a fee for using the library nor of any stipulations regarding who could use it, suggesting that its resources were made available free of charge to anyone who wanted to use them. Copies of books may have been made out on the colonnade or perhaps in the large westernmost room, which had a platform for a colossal statue of Athena and busts of literary figures.
The Library of Pergamon was a symbol of the intellectual ambitions of the city. The Attalids, the rulers of Pergamon, funded the library and encouraged literacy, providing funding for education in other cities as well. This rivalry between the libraries of Pergamon and Alexandria led to both working constantly to acquire more books. At its height, the library is said to have held 200,000 books, mostly written on parchment.
Pergamon became a leading supplier of parchment during the Roman Period, and the English word "parchment" comes from the Latin "pergamenum" referencing Pergamon. The city's legacy as a centre of learning and innovation continues to this day, reminding us of the importance of scholarly pursuits in shaping our understanding of the world.
Science and technology played significant roles in the intellectual pursuits of Pergamon, a city in Asia Minor. The invention of parchment, a superior writing material, revolutionized the ancient world and enabled the Library of Pergamon to compete with the Library of Alexandria, thereby fostering a lifestyle centred around knowledge and learning.
