Perga was an old city even in the first century. Its name (which is not Greek) indicates that its origin dates from pre-Greek times. Alexander the Great passed through it twice while the Pergaeans offered no resistance to him although it was a walled city with a citadel. In Roman times the main streets were over twenty-one meters wide. They were lined with Ionic colonnades and a water channel ran down their center in a series of small waterfalls as in Antalya today. Behind the colonnades stood the shops. Of the early buildings the stadium and the theater have survived the ravages of earthquakes and wars with the least damage. In fact this stadium which could seat about fourteen thousand people is one of the best preserved in Turkey.
The temple of the Pergaean Artemis according to a writer of the time was “a marvel of size, beauty, and workmanship.” Its location has yet to be established; it may have been where there are now ruins of a Byzantine church on a hill to the southeast of the city.
Perga is on a rise not far from the Cestrus River which was navigable In Paul’s time. It was not a seaport in terms of Its being directly on the Mediterranean even then, but rather it was more easily defended where it was: its distance from the open sea made it less vulnerable to piracy.
Two people stand out among the early residents of Perga. Apollonius was a third century B.C. astronomer and mathematician who believed that the movements of heavenly bodies in the universe were explainable by orbits within orbits: that the moon went around the earth as the earth went around the sun. He was much ahead of his time in his theories of astronomy, so much so that the ideas had to be rediscovered during the Renaissance. Plancia Magna was unusual for a second century A.D. woman: she held the highest city office during her life, that of demiurgus. She must have been well-to-do for a number of inscriptions record her gifts to the city.
Paul and Barnabas went through Perga on their way to and from Antioch on their first journey (Acts 13:13, 14:25). John Mark was with them at first but left them at Perga to return to Jerusalem. The reason for that must have been such that Paul doubted his commitment to the cause. Later when Paul and Barnabas were about to start on their second journey from Antioch they had a sharp dispute over his worthiness. Paul refused to have him go along, so John and Barnabas went to Cyprus while Paul chose Silas to accompany him.
Paul talks in II Corinthians 12:7 and in Galatians 4:13-14 of bodily illness that brought him to Galatia the first time. It may have been on that account that he did not stay long in Perga the first time. Whatever the illness was, it seems to have improved in time in the dry mountain air to the north.
The second theory of why they did not stay long in Perga is that their interview with Sergius Paulus, the proconsul of Cyprus, had made them want to hurry to the Roman colony in Antioch of Pisidia. This interpretation may lay too much stress on the lasting importance of that meeting with a cultured Roman who could have been more interested in the pursuits of the mind than the salvation, in Christian terms, of his soul. It is interesting, however, that this is” the point in Acts (13:9) that Luke begins to call Paul by his Roman name, not his Jewish “Saul”.
On their return they did stay in Perga long enough to preach and talk with people there. Nothing else is told about the city or their time there.
Pillars of the Agora
Palaestra in front of the Roman baths
Perga Nymphaeum
Perga,
Less visited than some other ruins, this place is fascinating if you have a guide to explain all.
The bath complex was amazing. Those Romans new how to live. There is still so much at this site to be dug up and restored. I expect many great things will come out of this site as archeologists continue to work the site.
We enjoyed this site. In my opinion you really need a guide to explain what is here to get the best of this ruined city, otherwise you don't notice or understand the best bits.
it was amazing to walk in places where Romans, Byzantines, and many others lived, worked…. Makes you appreciate your faith in a deeper way….
This was one of the most beautiful and naturally unspoilt places places I have ever been to. We visited this as a part of our guided tour to Aspendos and the Duden waterfalls and what a sight to behold with the old Roman and Corinthian ruins dating back thousands of years. The ruins have been preserved so well that the…
We saw many ruins on our short tour of Turkey and these were by far the best and the most well preserved
Very well preserved ancient site, We meant to walk around detailed but it was too cold! You need to learn the history first!! then imagine…
just to get the feel for the layout of a roman city the ruins are pretty well preserved quite interesting
The theater of Perge is closed to visit unfortunately,because of restoration.There is a stadium near the visitors' car park.You must experience walking on the main street of Perge.There is water canal at the middle of the street.At the end of the street there is an acropol nymphaeum.In ancient times water traveled the whole street through the canal from this point.
I think it was really interesting, but just be prepared that there's almost no shade so bring an umbrella or at least a hat. It's not really suitable for young kids due to the lack of relief from the sun/heat.
Be aware that the gift shop and tour companies are out to take your money. The prices are really unreasonable.