It seems that paganism was deeply rooted at Pergamus. Tacitus mentions its famous temple to Aesculapius, the god of medicine. [1] There was also a number of the immoral Nicolaites at Pergamus. Persecution had already broken out there in the time of St. John. At least one Christian had valiantly met death for his Faith. In later times Pergamus gave other martyrs for Christ. Eusebius mentions Carpus, Papylus and Agathonice who were executed in March 250 A. D. [2]
Today the city is known as Bergama and numbers about 20,000 inhabitants, mostly Turks and Greek schismatics. The ruins of three ancient churches were discovered in 1878-86. One of them had been a magnificent basilica dedicated to St. John.
Gaius, to whom St. John addressed his third Epistle, is said to have been the first bishop of Pergamus. [3] If this be true, he was most probably the "angel to whom St. John now writes.
13. Pergamus is called "Satan's Throne," on account of its deep-rooted paganism, its persecution of the Christians, and the immoralities of the Nicolaites. There may also be a reference to worship offered to the statue of the emperor. It seems that Pergamus was still the capital
