The Asisi Panorama and the World of Pergamon
The Pergamon Panorama in Berlin is an astonishing 360‑degree immersion into the ancient metropolis as it stood in 129 CE, created by the artist Yadegar Asisi.
Visitors step onto a central viewing platform surrounded by a 104‑meter‑wide, 30‑meter‑high circular painting that envelops them in a vivid, meticulously reconstructed world. Enhanced by shifting day‑night lighting, a custom soundscape, and subtle 3D visual effects, the panorama creates the uncanny sensation of standing on the acropolis itself, looking out over temples, theatres, bustling markets, and the distant Mediterranean. The sheer scale—3,100 square meters of printed textile—combined with Asisi’s cinematic detail makes the experience feel like time travel rather than museum viewing.
In the year depicted, Pergamon was a thriving cultural and political center of the Roman Empire under Emperor Hadrian, who is shown visiting the city. Perched dramatically on a 300‑meter‑high acropolis, Pergamon commanded the surrounding valleys with its terraced sanctuaries, monumental temples, and one of the steepest theatres of the ancient world. Below the acropolis stretched the Roman lower city—its streets alive with merchants, artisans, priests, soldiers, and families going about their daily routines. The panorama captures this layered urban world: religious rituals at the Sanctuary of Athena, performances in the theatre, processions, market scenes, and the hum of a cosmopolitan population shaped by Greek heritage and Roman rule.
The painting itself is the result of years of research and artistic reconstruction. Asisi collaborated closely with archaeologists from the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, integrating the latest findings into the visual narrative. The panorama was originally developed for a special exhibition in 2011–2012, then expanded and reopened in Berlin in 2018 in a dedicated exhibition building opposite Museum Island. Its textile surface consists of 35 printed polyester strips, joined seamlessly using transfer‑sublimation printing to create the enormous continuous image. Asisi even re‑coloured and digitally reconstructed the famous Pergamon Altar frieze, allowing visitors to see it in its original architectural context. The installation’s lighting and music—composed by Eric Babak—complete the multisensory environment, transforming the artwork into a living, breathing cityscape.
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| A close-up reveals incredible details. |
Visit Notes
I suggest beginning at the top of the central stairs and walking down the multilevel viewing tower.
There is a lift (elevator)
In April 2026, I walked in with no waiting but, the lines can be long at certain times of the year.
There are lockers.
There is an entry fee.
Museum passes were available in 2026- check online for current prices.
Pergamon eBook: Ancient Pergamon
Website: https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/pergamonmuseum-das-panorama/home/
About the Author
Geoffrey W. Sutton has a PhD in psychology and writes about psychology, culture, and travel.
Website: https://www.suttong.com/
Amazon Author: https://author.amazon.com/home
ResearchGate page: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Geoffrey-Sutton-2
Academia Page: https://evangel.academia.edu/GeoffSutton
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See Mind the Gap on AMAZON and other booksellers.
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