Library of Pergamon

The Library of Pergamon, built in the 3rd century BCE under King Eumenes II, stood as a beacon of scholarship in the ancient city of Pergamon, modern-day Bergama, Turkey. Located on the Acropolis, it was one of the ancient world’s largest libraries, reportedly holding around 200,000 scrolls. Renowned for its architectural elegance and intellectual influence, the library rivaled Alexandria’s and contributed to Pergamon’s status as a cultural and academic hub. It also played a vital role in the development of parchment, named “pergamena” in its honor.