Pergamos
“Citadel; height”
Summary
Pergamos (also called Pergamum) was a magnificent city of Mysia in Asia Minor, capital of the Roman province of Asia, and location of one of the seven churches addressed in Revelation, described as dwelling 'where Satan's throne is.'
☩History and Prominence
Pergamos was an ancient city in Mysia, Asia Minor, originally a fortress on a remarkable conical hill. Under the Attalid kings (283-133 BC), it became the capital of a powerful Hellenistic kingdom encompassing Mysia, Lydia, Caria, Pamphylia, and Phrygia. The city reached its zenith under Eumenes II (197-159 BC), who adorned it with magnificent buildings and founded a renowned library of 200,000 volumes—second only to Alexandria. This library gave rise to the word 'parchment' (Latin pergamena), as writing material was developed there when Egypt restricted papyrus exports. When Attalus III died without an heir in 133 BC, he bequeathed his kingdom to Rome, and Pergamos became the capital of the Roman province of Asia.
☩Religious Significance
Pergamos was a major religious center with magnificent temples to Zeus, Dionysus, Athena, and Asklepios. The altar of Zeus, forty feet high, was considered one of the wonders of the ancient world. The temple of Asklepios (the healing god) drew invalids from all parts of Asia, who slept in the temple courts hoping for divine revelations of cures through dreams. The city bore the title 'Thrice Neokoros,' indicating three temples had been built where Roman emperors were worshipped as gods. This emperor worship likely explains why Christ described Pergamos as 'where Satan's throne is' (Revelation 2:13).
☩The Church at Pergamos
The church at Pergamos is addressed in Revelation 2:12-17 as dwelling 'where Satan's throne is'—yet holding fast to Christ's name and not denying the faith, even when Antipas, Christ's 'faithful witness,' was martyred there. Antipas was the first Christian executed by the Roman state. However, Christ rebukes the church for tolerating those who held the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. The risen Lord, described as having 'the sharp two-edged sword,' calls the church to repentance and promises the overcomer hidden manna and a white stone with a new name. The modern town, Bergama, still contains extensive ruins including the base of the great altar of Zeus (now in Berlin's Pergamon Museum), a theater, agora, gymnasium, and several temples.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Pergamos," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Pergamos; Pergamum," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).