06.30.09
The Apostles Were Here Part 2
I realized that I almost forgot that I wanted to continue my post on “The Apostles Were Here.” I have a few more pictures of places where the Bible indicates that the Apostle Paul visited or were at least mentioned in the NT. Here’s a picture of Pergamum, which is also known today as Bergama.
Notice the white portion at the base of the columns. They believe that all of the structure was white like that, with the under portions being the stones that are currently shown. Not much of the ruins are left here. Actually a lot of it is now on display in Germany at the Pergamonmuseum in Berlin. I think they took the whole Great Alter of Pergamom during the time when there were no restrictions on taking artifacts out of various countries. Wiki has a picture of it. It’s believed that this is the alter that was dedicated to Zeus and which John referred to in Revelation as “Satan’s Throne.” I don’t know how accurate that really is, but that’s what wiki claims. . .
Here’s another angle of it on the other side with Andrew standing there.
This is the walkway from the library going to the theater.
About three kilometers from here is Asklepion. It was a famous hospital in ancient times and is believed to be the first psychiatric hospital. Here’s a picture of one of the columns which depicts the “medical symbol.”
The treatments included were not quite like today’s modern hospitals and is believed to have included treatments like psychotherapy, massage, herbal treatments, bathing treatments which included mud, dream interpretations, and drinking of special waters. It’s said to be more like a spa today. Here’s another shot of the “facility.”
Some of the famous people who were believed to have been treated here were Marcus Aurelius and Hadrian.
The famous Galen, who was born in Pergamum in 129 A.D., trained at Asklepion and later became an attendant for the Gladiators.
Then moving along to Hieropolis near Pamukkale is the city that is supposed to have been frequented by the citizens of Laodicea. This area has the natural thermal spas, so this location had baths, a library, and a gymnasium.
My boys and I are standing under the archway. Off to the left of the picture are some columns. Here’s another shot showing what’s behind those colums more.
This is one of the locations where the Apostle Paul started an early church. Philip the Apostle is thought to have spent the last years of his life in Hieropolis with his daughters before he was martyred by crucifixion and buried there. I’ve got some pictures of Necropolis, which is a short distance from here. I’m not sure if he was buried there, but that is a burial ground for the people at the time.
Then finally, I have some pictures of a place that is “mentioned” in the Bible, but not necessarily a place where the Apostles visited. This place is mentioned in the Book of Acts when the holy spirit comes upon the Apostles and they start to speak in tongues. It says that there were people from different places who heard the Apostles speaking in their own languages. One of those peoples mentioned were “Cappadocians.” Acts seems to indicate that they were God-fearing Jews. Cappadocia is located more centrally in Turkey and the dwelling are mostly carved into the rocks. Here’s a picture of one location.
It’s a little hard to see it in this picture as it’s shrunken down to fit the blog, but the little dark spots on the rocks are entrances to the rocks.
Here’s another shot.
And another.
And another with Aaron and me off to the side.
Those pokey rock structures are carved into and made into dwellings. Apparently the type of stone is easily carved. These particular structures are known as the “fairy chimneys.”
There was another more extensive visitor area for Cappadocia, which they did not allow photography inside, but we were able to tour inside. Here’s a pic of Brian coming down from one of the structures. If memory serves me correctly, the area Brian was coming down from was one of the communal dining areas.
And I think that’s all the pictures this one blog post will stand for, so good night for now.
Marlakins
P.S. I almost forgot to mention that the name Cappadocia means something like “land of beautiful horses.” And we did see some wild horses still roaming about there. . . Oh, and it was also here in Cappadocia where we saw camels just walking along the roads, heheh. Well, they weren’t unattended, but still was different to see camels out like you would see horses out. Eh, well yeah, camels are supposed to be out, but I’m more used to seeing horses. . .
