Market Gate of Miletus

This is one of the three grand exhibits at Berlin's Pergamonmuseum. It was transported piecemeal from its 19th century excavation site to Berlin and reassembled. Displayed. At least partially abducted. The main collection of town's artifacts appropriately reside in the Miletus Museum in Didim, Aydın -- Turkey's Aegean region. (Miletus was one of the 12 Ionian cities of Asia Minor; an important regional harbor. Now grossly silted, reset centuries ago, several miles inland.)


Here, again in Berlin, the Bible and history meet. The Apostle Paul met with the elders of the Church of Ephesus at Miletus in 57 AD (Acts 20:15-38). Yes, another one of Revelations' Seven Churches. Later, Paul left Trophimus, one of his travelling companions, at Miletus due to illness (2 Timothy 4:20). It is generally assumed that Paul transited Miletus at least one more time, perhaps as late as 66 AD. Miletus had to have hosted an emerging Christian community. After all, Paul was a decent missionary.

Can one then assume that he passed through this gate to shop or browse the market? Or proselytize? Oh yes.

Pergamonmuseum

Berlin is home to over 150 museums. Several prominent ones are located in an area often called Museum Island (Museumsinsel), the northern half of the Spreeinsel, a Spree River island in the city's center. There, the Pergamon Museum (Pergamonmuseum) houses reconstructed monumental buildings such as the Ishtar Gate (the eighth gate to the inner city of Babylon), the Market Gate of Miletus (one of ancient Ionia's most important ports) and the Pergamon Altar. These reconstructions consist of artifacts and materials excavated from their original sites.

As an aside, those places would really like their historic stuff back. Antiquities. Okay, back then they were weak and abused. Others were strong. They also pilfered and sold their own past, their heritage. But how do we undo that which was moved, taken, bought or stolen in the past? Open box, welcome contents. Thanks Pandora.


Built in the 2nd century BC, the Pergamon Altar is a magnificent structure thought to have been a part of a temple dedicated to Zues in Pergamon (now Bergama, Turkey). In antiquity, it is described as the "battle of the gods." Here, the goddesses Asteria and Phoebe, Hekate and Leto, appear; on a corner, Triton and Poseidon. Another frieze is reserved for the Olympians, where Hera guides the chariot of Zeus into battle. To the right is Herakles. Zeus then follows, followed by Athena and the war chariot of Ares. Eos, Helios and Selene wage war. Is this an ancient comic?
The temple and altar also appear to have been mentioned in the Book of Revelation, "... in Pergamos ... where Satan's Seat is ..." (Revelation 2:12-13). Satan's Seat.


What is this Berlin? Am I looking at real property described in one of St. John's revelations? The one directed at Pergamon's Christian congregation, one of seven archetypal churches? My mind raced through years of Sunday School lessons. Parables, prophecies. Apocalypse, final judgement. Stories. Whispers. Sleeping with one eye open. 666. History of biblical proportions, here. Oh my.