Πέργαμος
Pérgamos
G4010 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An urban center; Pergamos (Pergamum), a city in the region of Asia in western Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), known in antiquity for its political, religious, and cultural significance. Used specifically as a toponym referring to this major Hellenistic city. The word may also evoke the sense of a fortified or elevated place due to its etymological roots, though in the New Testament context it functions solely as a geographic name.
Semantic Range
Pergamos (Pergamum), the Hellenistic city in Asia; a fortified city or citadel (archaic sense); in New Testament context, exclusively the city of Pergamos
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root πέργαμος, likely related to πύργος (tower, fortress) or περ- (to enclose, surround), with a possible sense of 'fortified height' or 'citadel.' The name is attested as a place name in Asia Minor from Hellenistic times. Ultimate origin is likely pre-Greek or Anatolian, though Greek popular etymology associated it with the concept of a fortress or high citadel.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Πέργαμος refers specifically to the prominent Hellenistic and Roman city known for its acropolis and monumental architecture, including the famous library and temples. The city served as the capital of the Attalid dynasty and was a major center of Greek culture and administration in Asia Minor. In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, Pergamos was renowned for its medical, religious, and literary institutions (see references to the Asclepion and library). In the New Testament (Revelation 2:12-17), Πέργαμος is listed among the seven cities addressed in the Book of Revelation, indicating its status as an important religious center. The term is used in Greek literature from the Hellenistic period onwards exclusively as a proper noun for the city; it is not used generically for other fortified places after the classical period. Standard English translations uniformly render Πέργαμος as 'Pergamos' or 'Pergamum,' but do not convey the cultural and historical resonance of the city's name in antiquity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πύργος; fortified; Pergamus, a place in Asia Minor:--Pergamos.
Root Family
Πέργαμος (Pergamos) — fortress, citadel, Pergamos (Hellenistic city)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4010-01 |
Περγάμῳ | pergamo | N DAT F SG |
to Pergamos | 1 | |
G4010-02 |
Πέργαμον | pergamon | N ACC F SG |
Pergamos | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4010-02 |
Revelation 1:11 | Πέργαμον | pergamon | N ACC F SG |
Pergamos | |
G4010-01 |
Revelation 2:12 | Περγάμῳ | pergamo | N DAT F SG |
to Pergamos |