pergamos Summary and Overview

the chief city of Mysia, in Asia Minor. One of the "seven churches" was planted here (Rev. 1:11; 2:17). It was noted for its wickedness, insomuch that our Lord says "Satan's seat" was there. The church of Pergamos was rebuked for swerving from the truth and embracing the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes. Antipas, Christ's "faithful martyr," here sealed his testimony with his blood. This city stood on the banks of the river Caicus, about 20 miles from the sea. It is now called Bergama, and has a population of some twenty thousand, of whom about two thousand profess to be Christians. Parchment (q.v.) was first made here, and was called by the Greeks pergamene, from the name of the city.

(in Revised Version Pergamum) (height, elevation), a city of Mysia, about 3 miles to the north of the river Caicus, and 20 miles from its present mouth. It was the residence of a dynasty of Greek princes founded after the time of Alexander the Great, and usually called the Attalic dynasty, from its founder, Attalus. The sumptuousness of the Attalic princes hall raised Pergamos to the rank of the first city in Asia as regards splendor. The city was noted for its vast, library, containing 200,000 volumes. Here were splendid temples of Zeus or Jupiter, Athene, Apollo and AEsculapius. One of "the seven churches of Asia" was in Pergamos. #Re 1:11; 2:12-17| It is called "Satan's seat" by John, which some suppose to refer to the worship of AEsculapius, from the serpent being his characteristic emblem. Others refer it to the persecutions of Christians, which was work of Satan. The modern name of the city is Bergama.

PER'GAMOS (place of nuptials), a celebrated city of Mysia, about 3 miles north of the river Caicus and 20 miles from the sea. It was noted for its wealth, which had its origin, it is said, from the time that 9000 talents were entrusted by Lysimachus, a successor of Alexander, to the keeping of Philataerus, who (b.c. 283) appropriated the money, declared himself independent, and founded a successful dynasty, which lasted for over four centuries, when the treasure was bequeathed to the Romans. The city was celebrated for (1) literary character; (2) idolatry. It had avast library of 200,000 volumes (rolls), rivalling that at Alexandria, but Antony presented this library to Cleopatra, when it was removed to Egypt, and, with the Alexandrine Library, destroyed by Caliph Omar. At this city also the art of preparing skins for writing was greatly improved, and our word "parchment" is derived from the Latin charta pergamena, Pergamos or "paper of Pergamos." The city had, in a grove near by, a cluster of famous temples dedicated to Zeus, Minerva, Apollo, Venus, Bacchus, and AEsculapius. One of the seven churches of Asia was at Pergamos, "where Satan's seat is." Rev 1:11; Rev 2:12-17. The term "Satan's seat" some regard as referring to the worship of AEsculapius, whose common emblem was the serpent. Others think it denotes the particular wickedness of the various idolatries and the trials which had come upon the church, one faithful member, Antipas, having already suffered martyrdom. The city is now called Berqama, and has a population of from 20,000 to 30,000, of which about 2000 are Christians, having several churches. The rest of the inhabitants are Turks and Mohammedans. There are ruins of fine churches and temples, indicating the former grandeur of the city, but the modern houses are small and mean.

A city of Mysia, three miles N. of the River Caicus. Eumenes II (197-159 B.C.) built a beautiful city round an impregnable castle on "the pine-coned rock." Attalus II bequeathed his kingdom to Rome 133 B.C. The library was its great boast; founded by Earaches and destroyed by Caliph Omar. The prepared sheepskins were called pergamena charta from whence our "parchment" is derived. The Nicephorium, or thank offering grove for victory over Antiochus, had an assemblage of temples of idols, Zeus, Athene, Apollo, Aesculapius, Dionysus, Aphrodite. Aesculapius the healing god (Tacitus, Ann. 3:63) was the prominent Pergamean idol (Martial); the Pergamenes on coins are called "the principal "temple care-takers" (neokoroi) of Asia," and their ritual is made by Pausanias a standard. The grove of Aesculapius was recognized by the Roman senate under Tiberius as having right of sanctuary. The serpent (Satan's image) was sacred to him, charms and incantations were among medical agencies then, and Aesculapius was called "saviour." How appropriately the address to the Pergamos church says, "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat (throne) is," etc. Here Antipas, Jesus' "faithful martyr," was slain (Revelation 2:12-16). (See ANTIPAS.) "Thou hast them that hold the doctrine of Beldam who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before ... Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols and to commit fornication"; this naturally would happen in such an idol-devoted city. The Nicolaitanes persuaded some to escape obloquy by yielding in the test of faithfulness, the eating of idol meats; even further, on the plea of Christian "liberty," to join in fornication which was a regular concomitant of certain idols' worship. Jesus will compensate with "the hidden manna" (in contrast to the occult arts of Aesculapius) the Pergamene Christian who rejects the world's dainties for Christ. Like the incorruptible manna preserved in the sanctuary, the spiritual feast Jesus offers, an incorruptible life of body and soul, is everlasting. The "white stone" is the glistering diamond, the Urim ("light") in the high priest's breast-plate; "none" but the high priest "knew the name" on it, probably Jehovah. As Phinehas was rewarded for his zeal against idol compliances and fornication (to which Balaam seduced Israel), with "an everlasting priesthood," so the heavenly priesthood is the reward of those zealous against New Testament Balaamites. Now Bergamo.