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.