Leading city of the Roman province of Asia, that at some time challenged Ephesus and Alexandria in importance. The city is mentioned in the NT once, in the book of Revelation, as one of the recipient of a scroll from Jesus (1:11; 2:12).
Situated a few miles from the Aegean Sea and on the Caicus River, Pergamum was founded sometime in the 4th Cent BC, and grew wealthy from its silver mines,parchment production, and textiles.
The city was also a prominent religious center, with temples to Zeus and Asclepius. A temple was sanctioned by Emperor Augustus in 29 BC and Pergamum became the first site in the East for the Imperial cult. It is little surprising then that Christ called the city "where Satan has his throne" and "where Satan lives" (Rev 2:13). The Christians in Pergamum were praised for not renouncing their faith in Christ, despite the oppression of persecution and martyrdom. They were, however, rebuked for holding "to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality" (2:14), suggesting that their moral behaviour was badly wanting.
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