Pergamum

The ancient city of Pergamum, which in Greek means “citadel”, is located currently in the Turkish city of Bergama. Bergama is located about 70 miles north of Izmir, or Smyrna in ancient times. The highest point of Pergamum, known as the acropolis (acro means highest point and polis means city), stands around 320 meters high. To the west of the acropolis there is the Selinus River and to the east is the Cetius River. On top of the acropolis stands what is called the upper city. On the side of the acropolis, there was a middle city and down in the valley, where Bergama is, is where the lower city would be.

The Acropolis of Pergamum as viewed from the modern city of Bergema

The church of Pergamum was one of the seven churches that John wrote to and we can find this letter in the book of Revelations 2:12-17. In verse 13 it says, “I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.” Antipas is known as the first martyr of Asia and according to tradition he was slowly roasted to death inside a bull around 81-96 AD.

In that verse though, it mentions “where Satan has his throne.” John in this passage is referring to something in Pergamum. We know that this throne is symbolic of something because Revelation is written in symbolic language. Sometimes direct language cannot accurately describe all the attributes of God, but metaphors and symbols can give us a picture of God without defining God as something worldly. After visiting Pergamum and learning about the all the things in the acropolis and the nearby city, there are a couple things that John could be talking about. One option and the most popular option is the Altar to Zeus. Now in Pergamum, the Altar is not actually there, it is in the State Museum, formerly the Pergamum Museum, in Berlin, Germany where it has been completely put back together. It is 117 feet wide, 110 feet tall, and 40 feet high and the steps to get to the altar were 66 feet wide. Inside the building, there are friezes depicting gigantomachy, or the struggle between the gods and the giants (their enemies). Since it is an altar to the god Zeus, there was 24 hour sacrifices so smoke could constantly be seen coming up from this building. After the meat would be sacrificed to Zeus, it would then be sold in the markets along with other meat that was sacrificed to Trajan (I’ll talk about him in a bit). It is easy to see how the Altar to Zeus may be seen as a throne. The constant sacrifices of another god could have been what John meant by “throne of Satan”

Here is the altar to Zeus, sadly located in Berlin and not in Turkey today. You can see how its shape might have evoked thoughts of a throne.

Part of the foundation of the Altar to Zeus is all that remains in Pergamum today. 

Another possibility could have been the Trajan Temple also built in the upper city. The Trajan Temple started to be built at the end of the first century, and it was finished in the beginning of the second. It was dedicated to the Emperor Trajan. Usually temples were created for worship of the gods, but during the first century, the emperors began to be worshiped as divine as well and remnants of Caesar worship can still be seen all over Turkey today. The temple is a sight to be seen. It is built on the side of a steep hill, and so before the temple could start to be built, they had to build the platform first. Underneath the platform, there is a complex water drainage system of drains and pipes in the structure to keep water off of the top of the platform. The platform was supported by arches. Here at the Trajan Temple, sacrifices were being offered to the Emperor Trajan. This temple may be considered the throne of Satan because it was a place where gods were worshipped, and the platform and the temple itself could be seen as a throne on the side of the acropolis.

The Trajan temple was built on a slope, the bulk of the foundation is supported by arches on the side of the hill.

The third possibility, and perhaps a different one, is the Asclepion. The Asclepion was a renowned healing sanctuary of Asclpeius, the Greek god of healing. Asclepius was always depicted with a serpent, usually around a staff that he carried. This is where we get the shield and snake from on ambulances. The Asclepion is located a little ways outside of the acropolis. Here at the Asclepion, physical ailments were seen to be caused by mental illnesses, so if the mental illness was healed, then the physical illnesses would also be healed. Patients would be led to a dark, underground tunnel with no lights besides the light at the end of the tunnel. The patients would walk slowly towards the end of the tunnel. As they walked, steamed water and opium would rise up from underneath the walkway down the tunnel and it would consume the whole tunnel. Doctor’s above would encourage the patients to keep going and would meet them at the end of the tunnel. Then they would be led to an enclosed circular building where patients would walk in circles talking with the doctor until the doctor would tell them it was enough. Water would also be running underneath the walkway again, to relax the patient. At this facility, there existed other things as well. There was a Sacred Spring where water still flows today, a temple of Zeus-Asclepius, a stoa around the courtyard for the sick to congregate, and a Roman theater. The theater seats around 3,500 people and has now been fully restored by archaeologists. Pictures of this theater will show you that it may resemble a throne. This healing facility relied on physical remedies for healing instead of relying of Jesus Christ for strength. Also, a symbol for Satan has been a snake before in Genesis, so a serpent may be a symbol that they connected with the devil’s presence.

The Asklepion had several temples, and theaters, and healing centers. This is the circular hallway used for psychotherapy.

The road to and from the Asklepion was lined with columns. From the Asklepion you have another good view of the acropolis.

Drew Pagenkopf