In the King James Bible, this city is called Pergamos, but in Turkey, it is called Pergamum, and that is the correct spelling.
Period of Pergamum in Church History
The church in Pergamum represents the church history period from about A.D. 314 to A.D. 590. During this time, the church began to change. I call this time “paganism unlimited” because the world started to mix with the church, and it moved away from focusing on Jesus Christ. This letter was written by Jesus to the church in Pergamum, but it also has historical meaning Istanbul City Tour.
Location of Pergamum
Pergamum is located about 65 miles south of Izmir (a popular city for tourists), and 70 miles north of Ephesus. These three cities – Smyrna (Izmir), Ephesus, and Pergamum – were the most important cities in the area. They competed with each other in different areas. Smyrna was the commercial center, Ephesus was the political center, and Pergamum was the religious center.
Pergamum as a City
Pergamum was the capital of the kingdom of Pergamum. The acropolis (the highest part of the city) still stands today, and the ruins of its temples and other buildings are located there. The city was in the region of Mysia and was considered by Pliny to be the most important city in Asia. It was one of the most beautiful places in Asia Minor. Sir William Ramsay called it a royal city.
In Pergamum, there was a temple built for Caesar Augustus, which made it an important and royal city. Augustus visited this city when the weather got cold in Rome. The city also had a famous healing spa Smyrna The Church of Suffering.
Importance of Pergamum
Although Pergamum was not as much of a commercial city as Smyrna (because it was not near the sea and not on important trade routes), it was an important fortified city. It was built on a mountain, and the acropolis (a high, strong area) overlooked a large plain called the Caicus Plain. The original city was built between two rivers that flowed into the Caicus River, and the mountain stood out as a strong natural defense. Visiting this city today is very impressive. You can still see the large mountain with the ruins on top.
