As mentioned above, visitors first saw the eastern side as they entered the altar area.
Here was where almost all of the important Olympian gods were assembled.
On the left the presentation begins with the three-faceted goddess Hecate.
She fights in her three incarnations with a torch, a sword and a lance against the Giant Clytius.
Next to her is Artemis, the goddess of the hunt; in keeping with her function she fights with a bow and arrow against a Giant who is perhaps Otos.
Her hunting dog kills another Giant with a bite to the neck.
Artemis’ mother Leto fights at her side using a torch against an animal-like Giant; at her other side her son and Artemis’ twin, Apollo, fights.
Like his sister, he is armed with bow and arrow and has just shot the Giant Udaios, who lies at his feet.

The next relief panel has barely survived.
It is supposed that it showed Demeter.
She is followed by Hera, entering the battle in a quadriga.
Her four winged horses are identified as the personifications of the four winds, Notos, Boreas, Zephyrus and Eurus.
Between Hera and his father Zeus, Heracles is fighting, identified only by a frieze fragment showing a paw of his lion pelt.
Zeus is physically especially present and agile.
He fights by hurling lightning bolts, sending rain and massed clouds not only against two young Giants but also against their leader, Porphyrion.
The next pair of fighters also shows an especially important battle scene.
Athena, the city goddess of Pergamon, breaks the Giant Alkyoneus’ contact to the earth, from which the mother of the Giants, Gaia, emerges.
According to legend, Alkyoneus was immortal only as long as he touched the ground, where the power of his mother could flow through him.
The eastern frieze concludes with Ares, the god of war, who goes into battle with a chariot and pair of horses.
His horses rear up in front of a winged Giant.
As mentioned above, visitors first saw the eastern side as they entered the altar area. Here was where almost all of the important Olympian gods were assembled. On the left the presentation begins with the three-faceted goddess Hecate. She fights in her three incarnations with a torch, a sword and a lance against the Giant Clytius. Next to her is Artemis, the goddess of the hunt; in keeping with her function she fights with a bow and arrow against a Giant who is perhaps Otos. Her hunting dog kills another Giant with a bite to the neck. Artemis’ mother Leto fights at her side using a torch against an animal-like Giant; at her other side her son and Artemis’ twin, Apollo, fights. Like his sister, he is armed with bow and arrow and has just shot the Giant Udaios, who lies at his feet.
The next relief panel has barely survived. It is supposed that it showed Demeter. She is followed by Hera, entering the battle in a quadriga. Her four winged horses are identified as the personifications of the four winds, Notos, Boreas, Zephyrus and Eurus. Between Hera and his father Zeus, Heracles is fighting, identified only by a frieze fragment showing a paw of his lion pelt. Zeus is physically especially present and agile. He fights by hurling lightning bolts, sending rain and massed clouds not only against two young Giants but also against their leader, Porphyrion. The next pair of fighters also shows an especially important battle scene. Athena, the city goddess of Pergamon, breaks the Giant Alkyoneus’ contact to the earth, from which the mother of the Giants, Gaia, emerges. According to legend, Alkyoneus was immortal only as long as he touched the ground, where the power of his mother could flow through him. The eastern frieze concludes with Ares, the god of war, who goes into battle with a chariot and pair of horses. His horses rear up in front of a winged Giant.
Pergamon Altar