Pergamos

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.