Day 07 - Western Coast: Pergamum, Weaving Center

“I know where you live – where Satan has his Throne.”

This morning we spent our second day in Pergamum, where Jesus said that Satan lives. Pergamum was a magnificent city that overlooked two valleys and the Aegean Sea. It was also home to the "neokoros", which is the honor given to the city that by the emperor that designates it as the home of emperor worship. Gaining this designation was a high honor and required the city to gain the emperor’s favor by constructing temples and theaters, demonstrating your economic value, and displaying your citizens’ devotion to the emperor.

In this context, it’s not difficult to see why Jesus might have said that Satan lived here amongst the 13 temples and shrines to the gods, including the temples to the Emperor Trajan, Athena, Dionysus, Zeus, and Demeter. This is the context for John’s Gospel, which seems to have been written to Pergamum and the people in Asia minor. Through this lens, many of the stories about Jesus from John’s Gospel make even more sense:

1.    In contrast to the Temple of Trajan and emperor worship → John shares the story of Thomas declaring Jesus as Lord.

2.    In contrast to the Temple of Artemis, goddess of knowledge → John shares Jesus’s message that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

3.    In contrast to the Temple of Asclepius, god of medicine/healing → John shares the story of Jesus healing the invalid at the pool of Bethesda.

4.    In contrast to the Temple of Dionysus, goddess of wine → John shares Jesus’s message that he is the vine in which we must abide.

Shared by Kent during morning devotions, John’s final words from his first letter, “Dear Children, keep yourselves from idols”, were especially poignant throughout the day.

After Pergamum, we went to a Turkish rug-weaving demonstration where we could try using a loom. Two fun facts about the rug making process: (1) a single silk cocoon can produce a kilometer of silk thread, and (2) the silk carpets (made from tying knots together) can have over 500 knots in a square centimeter!

Following our demonstration (and rug purchases!) we began our journey to Ephesus. While we didn’t visit any holy sites in Ephesus today, we did stop at a Turkish Delight store for a sampling of sweets, honey, and wine.

Now we are about to jump into the Aegean Sea to wash off the sweat from a long day’s journey. Wish us luck!

Ken