The Acropolis crowns a 335-metre mesa overlooking the Bakırçay Plain. Terraces carve into the slope, supporting temples, theatres and stoas laid out by Pergamon’s Attalid kings in the 3rd–2nd centuries BCE. Roman engineers later added their stamp without erasing Hellenistic lines, creating a multi-layered skyline that still dominates modern-day Bergama on the plain below.

Temple of Trajan

Built under Emperor Hadrian to honour deified Trajan and Zeus Philios, the temple doubled as imperial propaganda: placing Roman power literally above every older monument. We imagined ancient worshippers ascending the vaulted substructure, aware that loyalty to Rome meant economic perks and civic prestige.

Asia Minor cities often requested imperial cult temples to cement ties with Rome. By venerating Trajan alongside Zeus, Pergamon gained tax breaks, construction funds and prominence as a provincial capital. Statues of the emperor, fragments now in Berlin, once towered over the courtyard, signalling that divine favour and political security walked hand-in-hand.

The Steepest Theatre in the Ancient World

Carved like stadium seating on a 70-degree incline, Pergamon’s theatre packs 10,000 stone seats into half a semicircle.

This theatre is known as the steepest in the ancient world.

Where Was Their Water Source?

This aqueduct was part of an advanced water supply system built to serve the city, especially the acropolis, which sat atop a steep hill and was the center of Pergamon’s political and religious life. While the aqueduct lay at the bottom of the hill, the water in the pipeline was pushed up the hill by the weight of the water behind, like a chain being pulled over a pulley – a feat of ancient hydraulic engineering.

Once at the acropolis, water was distributed to cisterns and throughout the city via smaller pipes.

By late morning, as the heat started to build up, we caught our taxi and rejoined with the tour. Overall it was a nice visit, and we wondered why this place wasn’t actually part of the official itinerary given that it wasn’t too far from where we stayed the night.

See more photos of the Pergamon Acropolis here

The ruins contain several temples and plazas central to Mayan religious and civic life dating back to 200-900 AD. Our guide explained that Altun Ha was a vital trading outpost and agricultural hub in its era. We learned that the site gets its name from the Mayan words for “water” and “stone,” likely referring to the stone water reservoirs enabling life in this area.

Wandering through the sprawling ruins, we spotted many of the tropical trees thriving in Belize’s humid climate. Our guide pointed out plants like avocado, and allspice trees that would have sustained the Mayan people centuries ago. I got to sniff a fragrant allspice leaf, though the guide told us not to chew it since it’d cause irritation in the mouth. It made me chew it even more, but I didn’t dare chew it until I got back on the cruise ship, but by then, the leaf had lost its potency.

We also learned more about Mayan concepts of beauty and status. The guide explained that elongated skulls, flattening forehead bones, filing teeth, and inlaid jade flakes signified nobility and were considered highly attractive. The famous Jade Head sculpture found at Altun Ha in the 1960s would have adorned a spiritual leader. Its craftsmanship and 15 pounds of precious greenstone underscored the power and status of its owner in ancient times.

Wandering through the stone temples and plazas of Altun Ha gave us a glimpse into daily and ceremonial life centuries ago. It was eye-opening to visualize the rituals, agriculture, and artifacts underscoring this vital Mayan trade hub. The allspice, and avocado trees surrounding us emphasized the continuity between past and present in this region.

See more of Altun Ha here