Limited Edition

Friezes belonging to the Altar of Zeus were found during the excavations conducted between 1878 and 1886 under the direction of German engineer Carl Humann in the Pergamum ruins located in Bergama township of Izmir province. By also taking advantage of the economically weakened Ottoman Empire, Humann who had been misleading the Ottoman government on the subject as it was later understood from his correspondence, persuaded the sultan to issue an imperial order for the monument to be taken out of the country. In fact, the Altar of Zeus was brought to Germany by ships and at first placed in Altes Museum, the old State Museum of Berlin. However, after being assembled in the Altes Museum, it was realized that the pieces could not be presented in an appropriate exhibition context there and a new purpose-built museum was erected, called “Pergamon Museum”, taking its name after the location of the altar. This magnificent masterpiece was brought to Russia during the Second World War by the Red Army as a spoil of war but later returned to Germany after the war ended. Altar of Zeus, also known as the Altar of Pergamum is a triumphal monument erected by Eumenes II, King of Pergamum, in order to immortalize their victories against the Galatians (Celts) between 165 and 156 BC. The monument was dedicated to Zeus, the main deity in Greek mythology, and to his daughter Athena, the goddess of war and reason. Masterfully carved, the friezes on the marble altar depicts “Gigantomachy – Battle of the Giants”, probably the most important battle that takes place in Greek mythology. Today, the Altar of Zeus is exhibited in the Pergamon Museum in Germany. In Turkey, only the foundations of Altar of Zeus can be seen in the acropolis of Pergamum Gigantomachy – Battle of Giants Object, reenacts the dramatic scene which has a significant place among the friezes of the Altar, where Zeus is imposingly positioned in the center. In this battle scene between Zeus and the Giants, the characters are engraved on different layers of glass in a chronological lattice. Defeated giant depictions are positioned on the back panels, whereas the triumphant Zeus, in all his glory, in the forefront. All of the relief patterns the Gigantomachy – Battle of Giants Object are decorated with gold and antiquated paints. The base is made of beige marble.