Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
The chief city of Mysia, in Asia Minor. One of the “seven churches” was planted here (Rev. 1:11; 2:17). It was noted for its wickedness, insomuch that our Lord says “Satan’s seat” was there. The church of Pergamos was rebuked for swerving from the truth and embracing the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes. Antipas, Christ’s “faithful martyr,” here sealed his testimony with his blood. This city stood on the banks of the river Caicus, about 20 miles from the sea.
It is now called Bergama, and has a population of some twenty thousand, of whom about two thousand profess to be Christians. ) was first made here, and was called by the Greeks pergamene, from the name of the city.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(in Revised Version Pergamum) (height, elevation), a city of Mysia, about 3 miles to the north of the river Caicus, and 20 miles from its present mouth. It was the residence of a dynasty of Greek princes founded after the time of Alexander the Great, and usually called the Attalic dynasty, from its founder, Attalus. The sumptuousness of the Attalic princes hall raised Pergamos to the rank of the first city in Asia as regards splendor. The city was noted for its vast, library, containing 200,000 volumes. Here were splendid temples of Zeus or Jupiter, Athene, Apollo and AEsculapius.
One of “the seven churches of Asia” was in Pergamos. (Revelation 1:11; 2:12-17) It is called “Satan’s seat” by John, which some suppose to refer to the worship of AEsculapius, from the serpent being his characteristic emblem. Others refer it to the persecutions of Christians, which was work of Satan. The modern name of the city is Bergama .
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
PER'GAMOS (place of nuptials), a celebrated city of Mysia, about 3 miles north of the river Caicus and 20 miles from the sea. c. 283) appropriated the money, declared himself independent, and founded a successful dynasty, which lasted for over four centuries, when the treasure was bequeathed to the Romans. The city was celebrated for (1) literary character; (2) idolatry. It had avast library of 200,000 volumes (rolls), rivalling that at Alexandria, but Antony presented this library to Cleopatra, when it was removed to Egypt, and, with the Alexandrine Library, destroyed by Caliph Omar.
" The city had, in a grove near by, a cluster of famous temples dedicated to Zeus, Minerva, Apollo, Venus, Bacchus, and AEsculapius. " Rev 1:11; Rev 2:12-17. The term "Satan's seat" some regard as referring to the worship of AEsculapius, whose common emblem was the serpent. Others think it denotes the particular wickedness of the various idolatries and the trials which had come upon the church, one faithful member, Antipas, having already suffered martyrdom.
The city is now called Berqama, and has a population of from 20,000 to 30,000, of which about 2000 are Christians, having several churches. The rest of the inhabitants are Turks and Mohammedans. There are ruins of fine churches and temples, indicating the former grandeur of the city, but the modern houses are small and mean.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
height; elevation