This excerpt from the Book of Revelations, clearly cites what early Christians thought of the fabulous Altar of Zeus, on which Antipas was sentenced to death, when he refused to declare that the Roman emperor was “Lord and God.”
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
‘I know your works, and where you dwell…where Satan’s throne is.
And you hold fast to my name, and did not deny my faith even in the
days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr,
who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”
~ Revelation 2:12
The altar is long gone, transported stone by stone to Berlin.
But Pergamom, even without its prized altar is a stunning archaeological gem modeled on the Acropolis of Athens.
What I felt, walking through the few but striking remnants of this once glorious city and gazing into the misty valley from the top of the heartstoppingly steep theatre, was far from evil.
Pergamom was home to the second best Hellenistic library after Alexandria, that was completely destroyed by earthquakes nearly a thousand years ago.
A few majestic marble columns of the Temple of Trajan still stand in proud defiance of the annihilating power of earthquakes and conquerors. And beneath, is this amazingly well preserved vaulted foundation called the Tunnel of Trajaneum.
Until next time…happy travels wherever life takes you.
The Urge To Wander 
Great photos!
Thank you so much Cee. Lovely to see you here 🙂
that is certainly covers prospective but very good for this theme I like it
Thank you Jas! And welcome to my blog 🙂
Wonderful images for the theme, Madhu.
Thank you AD.
Another great set of photos and history lesson for me :). Well done Madu
Glad you liked it Boomie. I need a dose of your beautiful wordplay 🙂
nice! i love doorways and hidden nooks and this photo just makes you wanna go and investigate!!
They really do! Thank you Monkeymuesli 🙂
Great shots… 😉
Thank you Ledrake 🙂
Wow! Those beautiful arches beg one to take an imaginary stroll to the other end! Great peaceful photos. Thank you for sharing this! Z
Thank you Lisa! Pergamom was indeed one of the nicest Greco Roman ruins we have visited.
I don’t think it looks evil, either. Stone looks cold and harsh but the arches and doorway beckons one to enter.
I think evil, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder Lynne 🙂
I love the shot of the stone arches. Very interesting post!
That is only the foundation Elisa, imagine the workmanship that must have gone into the temple above!
A brilliant photo-essay! All the photographs reveal such grandeur era and you have remarkable written the historical composite in a very smooth way ! Bravada, Madhu !
Kind and generous as always Mashaal! Bahut shukriya, badi meherbani 🙂
It does make me wonder what lurks at tne end of the archways. Beautiful photos, Madhu.
Thank you Judy 🙂 These spaces were cleverly utilised storerooms!
Thanks from a vicarious traveler. Maybe I’ll make it to Turkey and Pergamon someday. In the meantime thanks for the views and commentary.
You are most welcome Stephen 🙂
There is amazing history attached to the photos you have posted. Perngamum is one of the seven churched God addresses in the book of Revelations as the Scripture above has stated. I think the city was also known for healings. Your last two photos shows the glorious outdoor theater. Thank for sharing these wonderful photos.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Yes Francine, a path below the theater leads to the Asclepion that was the healing center. Thank you for sharing your thoughts 🙂
For someone who is admittedly the “Ooh pretty, click, click, on to the next place” kind of photographer, these are all pretty darn good. Great compositions and they fit the challenge very well.
Could they be lucky shots perhaps? Thank you Jeff, I appreciate the kind words 🙂
Love the pictures, especially the arches.
Thank you Shaantz, the arches are my favourite feature too, and the theater of course.
Another great post as usual. I LOVE that first image.
Thank you Susan.
Oh beautiful! I would love to see this – hidden pathways to wonder at the end! Thank you 🙂
Thank YOU Keira 🙂 You would love this place.
Another wonderful travelogue – with fabulous photos – the arches do give spectacular perspective to that first shot!
Thank you TRS 🙂 That figure in the center I think, adds to the feeling of depth.
Great history lesson and fantastic photod, Madhu 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it Marianne 🙂
On the way to Izmir, not too far from the port of Kusadasi, is another wonderful demonstration of greek domain: Epfes …
I was in Bergama many years ago, fortunately it remained protected and well taken care of! Thak you for your beautiful photos…
have a lovely sunday Madhu
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Ephesus is of course the grandest of them all! i meant to cover that for the E challenge, but ran out of time! Thanks for stopping by Claudine 🙂
I love the archway shot, particularly with the person at the end.
Yes, the person adds a feeling of depth and enhances the perspective! thank you so much Denise 🙂
Reblogged this on msamba.
Thank you, I am honoured Agogo!
You’re welcome!
Impressive
Yes this site is indeed impressive! Have you traveled around Turkey?
Fascinating! 🙂
Great photos, especially the first one.
Thank you Nandini. This is one of the few photos in my archives that I am proud of 🙂
Love the perspective of those doors… I feel as if they wanted to suck me!
Great, as usual.
Thank you Adwoa! Those arches were even more impressive in reality!
Stunning photos with a nice piece of history. Oh, the places you have been! 😀
…….and hope to go to 🙂 Thank you LuAnn
Great photo, and I love the history, Madhu!
You don’t have to dig too deep in that region to touch ancient history Naomi!
You are so good as giving us information Madhu, and your first photo is magic, I love it!
Thank you Gilly, the history itself is so fascinating! Doesn’t involve much work on my part to make it interesting 🙂
Very well done. Good idea to have someone at the end of the walkway.
Have no idea who she is, she just happened to be there! Thank you for stopping by Rick. Just checked out your blog, and was wowed by your photos!
wow, i love the perspective of the main image! thanks for sharing.
Delighted! Thank you for the visit and comment 🙂
Madhu, I almost skipped this post because your title gave me goosebumps. But your pictures were wonderful, as usual. 🙂 Great job on the photos and the accompanying descriptions. You are turning me into an armchair traveler. 🙂
Happy to have you join me on my virtual journeys Imelda 🙂
Stunning first pic, and the last one of the steep theatre is great as well. Looks a great site to visit.
Thank you. It certainly is a great site to visit. Although Ephesus is much larger and grander.
Its amazing how every post comes with the history of the place! A joy to read!
As long as you aren’t bored by all the details Deepa 🙂 Thank you for checking this out.
Stunning images that takes us back to an amazing era of wonder.
Yes and I could immerse myself in their history forever! Thank you IT 🙂
I agree with you Madhu.. it is a stunning archaeological gem. A superbe series of photos too 🙂
Thank you Paula. I do get lucky sometimes 🙂
What a mesmerising set of arches Madhur. I love your fabuolus tours, words and pictures, through the ancient world. Lucky you!!! (and of course very clever you!)
Thank you for the kind words Patti, I am more lucky than clever I think! You are the expert photographer 🙂
These are all fabulous. The history that goes along with them adds
to the understanding of them. I think the one with the arches leaves
you wondering how many people had walked through them. Excellent, Madhu.
You never disappoint in you rimages or information. ~~~~ : – )
Thank you Isadora! I always worry that not everyone will find the history as fascinating as I do 🙂
Thanks for sharing the photos and the little history lesson.
Thank you, and hope you enjoyed the history as much as I did Cardinal 🙂
Fabulous shots… Love that first one… pulls you in. 🙂
Thank you Eliz 🙂
That first photo is a great perspective!
What fascinating architecture.