Deus Artefacta: Pergamum

Acropolis with theatre and Trajan Temple.
Photo © David E. Graves

Pergamum (Bergama)

Video Introduction

Video Local References for Throne of Satan

For the History of Pergamum see LINK

For the Exegesis of Rev 2:13 on Pergamum see LINK

INDEX of Sites

Welcome to Pergamum (Pergamos, Pergamon), the ancient city that flourished in the first century. This vibrant city was home to the Kingdom of Pergamum, a Hellenistic kingdom founded in 281 BC. Pergamum (modern Bergama) is celebrated as “the most famous place of Asia” (Pliny Natural History 5.126 [Rackham]). Pergamum was renowned throughout the ancient world for its impressive architectural monuments and cultural achievements. It was also renowned for its library, which contained an estimated 200,000 scrolls, making it one of the premier libraries of the ancient world. This library was built by King Eumenes II and was one of the first to contain a written record of Greek history. In addition, Pergamum was a center of learning, with such famous figures as Galen and Apollonius of Perga living and teaching here. Pergamum was also known for its temples, its theater and its citadel, which was one of the most formidable defensive constructions of the ancient world. With its stunning monuments, its wealth of knowledge, and its strategic importance, Pergamum was indeed one of the most important cities of the ancient world.

Also, Revelation mentioned that Pergamum was the location of "Satan’s Throne . . . where Satan lives” (Rev 2:13). Most of the site has been excavated and depending on the year there may or may not be anything being done on the site.

Online material:

Collins, Adela Yarbro. “Satan’s Throne.” Biblical Archaeology Review 32, no. 3 (2006). LINK
Deutsches Archaologisches Institut LINK
Franz, Gordon. “ 'Meat Offered to Idols’ in Pergamum and Thyatira.” Bible and Spade 14, no. 4 (2001): 105–110. LINK
Friesen, Steven J. “Satan’s Throne, Imperial Cults and the Social Settings of Revelation." Journal for the Study of the New Testament 27, no. 3 (2005): 351–73. LINK
Graves, David E. “Pergamum.” Biblical Archaeology Vol. 1: An Introduction with Recent Discoveries That Support the Reliability of the Bible (Moncton, N.B.: Electronic Christian Media, 2014), 241–43. Google Look Inside
Graves, David E. “The Altar of Zeus at Pergamum.” Pages 215–17 in Biblical Archaeology Vol. 2: Famous Discoveries That Support the Reliability of the Bible. Toronto, Can.: Electronic Christian Media, 2015.Amazon
Graves, David E. Key Themes of the New Testament: A Survey of Major Theological Themes. Moncton, N.B.: Electronic Christian Media, 2013. pages 86–87. LINK
Graves, David E. “Appendix B – The Graeco–Roman Literary Context For The Seven Messages Of Revelation.” In Key Themes of the New Testament: A Survey of Major Theological Themes, 335–48. Moncton, N.B.: Electronic Christian Media, 2013. PDF or LINK
Graves, David E. “Jesus Speaks to Seven of His Churches, Part 1.” Bible and Spade 23, no. 2 (Spring 2010): 46–56. PDF or LINK
Graves, David E. “Jesus Speaks to Seven of His Churches, Part 2.” Bible and Spade 23, no. 3 (Summer 2010): 66–74.PDF or LINK
Graves, David E. The Seven Messages of Revelation and Vassal Treaties: Literary Genre, Structure, and Function. Gorgias Dissertations Biblical Studies 41. Piscataway, N.J.: Gorgias, 2009. Amazon Look Inside
McRay, John. Pages 266-72 in Archaeology and the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 1991. AMAZON look inside
Ramsay, William M. St. Paul the Traveler and Roman Citizen. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel, 1896. LINK
Ramsay, William M. Cities and Bishoprics of Phrygia. 2 vols. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1895. ARCHIVE
Ramsay, William M. The Letters to Seven Churches. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1904. LINK There is an newer edition with few differences but not online. Ramsay, William M. The Letters to Seven Churches: Updated Edition. Edited by Mark W. Wilson. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1994.
Yeomans, Sarah. “Pergamon: City of Science ... and Satan?” Biblical Archaeology Society July 16, 2013. LINK

Available through Inter–Library Loan:

Graves, David E. “The Influence of Ancient Near Eastern Vassal Treaties on the Seven Prophetic Messages in Revelation with Special Reference to the Message to Smyrna.” Ph.D., University of Aberdeen, 2008.
Hemer, Colin J. The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in Their Local Setting. The Biblical Resource Series. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2001.

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias:

The list of abbreviations can be found here. LINK

Blaiklock, E. M. “Pergamum.” in The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol. 4, ed. Merrill C. Tenney. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 2009.
Myers, Allen C. ed. “Pergamum.” The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1996.
Burge, Gary M. “Pergamum,” Freedman, David Noel, Allen C. Myers, and Astrid B. Beck, eds. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2000.
Pfeiffer, Charles F., ed. “Pergamum.” pages 438–440 in Wycliffe Dictionary of Biblical Archaeology. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 2000.
Ussishkin, David. “Pergamum (Place).” Edited by David Noel Freedman, Gary A. Herion, David F. Graf, and John David Pleins. Pages 666–679 in Vol. 4: The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. 6 vols. New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1992.
Ramsay, William M. “Pergamum.” Edited by James Hastings, Frederick C. Grant, and Harold. H. Rowley. Dictionary of the Bible. New York, N.Y.: Scribner’s Sons, 1963.
Schäfer, Jörg. “Pergamon Mysia, Turkey.” Page 688-91 in The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, edited by Richard Stillwell, William L. MacDonald, and Marian Holland McAllister. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1976. LINK
Vailhé, S. “Pergamus,” in The Catholic Encyclopedia. 16 vols. Edited by Condé Bénoist Pallen, Charles George Herbermann, and Edward Aloysius Pace. New York, N.Y.: Appleton Company, 1913. LINK

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Feb 8, 2016

Pergamum