Pergamon

Pergamon (or Pergamum) was an ancient Greek city that came under Roman rule.  It was the capital of the Roman province of Asia until that titled was given to Ephesus.   In Paul's day, it was one of the most influential cities of the Roman empire.  A very good read about Pergamum is at this CBN site.

Pergamon is mentioned in Revelations as one of the 7 churches of Asia.

“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘I know your works, and where you dwell... where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to my name, and did not deny my faith even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.'" Revelation 2:12

Stones were used as admission to the theatre. 

This is the steepest theatre of ancient times.  It seated 10,000.

"To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna.... 

Christ, the "hidden manna", the Bread of life, the source of a believer's nourishment and strength.

...I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it."  Rev. 2:17

When people went to court, they were given a black stone if guilty, and a  white stone if not guilty.

* * * 

To get to the ampitheatre, we took a lift.

up....up....up!

Ancient ruins 

The great altar of Permamon (a large scale model is on display at Pergamon Museum in Berlin)

Pergamum was famous for its library of around 200,000 volumes and for manufacturing 

parchment resuilting in a paper called pergamena.  ~ The Bible Knowledge Commentary

Rome built their ampitheatres facing stages.  

They were built from the ground up (like this one we saw in Rome).

The Greeks built theirs into the earth and it faced nature - a field, mountain or sea.

Our guide told us that Turkish children are often given names of nature -  Grain, Tigris, etc.

The steps were very steep and I was rather afraid of falling down them - down to the bottom!  I was rather amazed at the agility of these children who were bouncing all around those steps!

This ampitheatre looks over the modern city of Bergama

 

We climbed up the stairs and went through this tunnel.

Poppies grow anywhere!

 So amazing!

Of course Lortab, the Newton Med Pharmacy mascot, had to take his picture for his own Facebook page!

The temple of Trajan, Emporer of Rome

 After emporers died, they became part of the pantheon of gods worshiped.  Nero and Domitian changed that as they were the 1st ones who wanted to be worshiped while they were still alive; the beginning of the imperial cult.

The people here also worshiped Athena, Dionysus, Zeus and Asclepius, 

the pagan god of healing, represented in the form of a serpent.

Compromise with worldly morality and the pagan doctrine was prevelent in the church;
departure from biblical faith soon corrupted it.

Statue of Emporer "Al" Trajan

"The city suffered badly during the third century and was badly damaged by an earthquake in 262 and was sacked by the Goths shortly after."