Study Tour 2013: Pergamum and Troy in Turkey

After a short bus ride from the city of Bermaga, we caught a cable car to the top of a mountain to see the ancient city of Pergamum (Pergamos) (3rd church listed in Rev 1.11.) This was the place where Satan's throne is (Rev 2.13). The phrase has been referred to the complex of pagan cults of Zeus, Athena, Dionysus and Asclepius, established by the Attalid kings, that of Asclepius Soter (the Saviour, healer) being of special importance. These cults are illustrative of worship. This was where the worship of the divine emperor had been made the touchstone of civic loyalty under Domitian. It marked a crisis for the church in Asia. Antipas (vs 13) is probably cited as the representative (perhaps the first) of those who were brought to judgement and execution here for their faith.

After the mountain experience we headed down to the Asclepius' healing centre. The centre had everything including a theatre, water treatment rooms and accommodation. The Asclepius healing centre was like an upmarket medical centre, except if you could not walk into the centre by yourself, one was not admitted. The walking in under your own steam was deliberate so people would not die in the treatment centre but be healed. It was very much a psychological / spiritual centre, very closely linked with worship in Pergamum, clearly visible on the hill.

We left Bermaga and headed for the ancient city of Troy. Troy is legendary in Greek mythology. It appears that there were 9 Troys. over the years they were destroyed and rebuild. The Troy story is interesting but little to see except for lots of foundations made out of mud and rock bricks of various Troy cities through the ages.