Pergamum bible tour

Pergamum, located about 70 miles (113 km) from Izmir in modern-day Bergama, is a city of historical significance. Situated atop an acropolis 1,800 feet high, it is surrounded by the Selinus River to the west and the Cetius River to the east.

After the death of Alexander the Great, his general Lysimachus stored his immense treasury in a citadel on the acropolis, which was later entrusted to Philetaerus. Following Lysimachus’s death, Philetaerus became the ruler of Pergamum and established a powerful kingdom. His successor, Eumenes I, and Eumenes’ son, Attalus I, further adorned the city with magnificent sculptures and artworks.

Highlights of Pergamum:

• The Altar of Zeus: Built around 170 BC by Eumenes II, it was one of the largest altars of its time. Its detailed friezes are now preserved in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.
• Temple of Athena: The first Hellenistic temple on the acropolis.
• Library of Pergamum: Known as the second-largest library of antiquity after Alexandria, it reportedly housed 200,000 volumes. When papyrus exports from Egypt were banned due to rivalry, Pergamum invented parchment as an alternative writing material.
• Temple of Trajan: The only Roman structure on the acropolis, this imperial temple stood as a symbol of Roman influence.
• The Red Basilica: A massive Roman temple built during Hadrian’s reign, dedicated to Egyptian deities. Its structure, featuring pools and domes, created an atmosphere evoking the grandeur of the Nile River.
  Over time, Pergamum faced attacks from Arabs and later Turks, becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in 1345.

The tour includes visits to the acropolis, the Red Basilica, and the modern town of Bergama. It also highlights biblical connections, explaining Jesus’ message to the Pergamum congregation, often associated with the «Throne of Satan.»