Pergamum with Acropolis and Sanctuary of Asclepius

The church in Pergamun was one of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

The Asclepius situated below the Acropolis had an ancient hospital for the mentally ill. Galen the most fanous doctor in the ancient Roman Empire and personal physician to Emperor Marcus Aurelius practised there.

Pergamum's library at the Acropolis was the second best in the ancient Greek civilisation.  There were 200,000 volumes in the library.  Mark Anthony took the whole collection to Alexandria in Egypt as a wedding gift for Cleopatra.  Parchment (pergaminus or pergamena) was invented here when there was a lack of papyrus for writing.

The beginning of the colonnaded sacred way leading to the sanctuary proper.

People with health problems would bathe in the water of the sacred spring.

The entrance to the tunnel.

The tunnel leading to an ancient hospital.  Psychotherapy was practised here. 
The physician would speak to the patient through the window above as he walked inside the tunnel in darkness.

Rooms in the hospital.

The Acropolis of Pergamum on a hill as seen from Asclepius.

A Great Altar of Pergamum dedicated to Zeus was found in the Acropolis . 
John the apostle may have referred to this altar as the "Satan's Throne" in his Book of Revelation. 

Troy

The multi-deck wooden horse.

Ancient Troy was abandoned by its people because it
was no longer a sea port after heavy silting of the nearby river.

Many walls protect the ancient city.

A German archeologist discovered the ancient city of Troy.

The ancient city of Troy was discovered following the legendary story by Homer. The Greeks and Trojans fought the Trojan War for the honour of the beautiful Helen.  The wooden horse was used to deceive the Trojans so as to gain access into the city.

Pamukhale, Turkey

White lime cascades formed by hot mineral spring water.

Water has "healing powers".

A Roman settlement with hot baths.

We too are playing with the water.

The white lime cascade is formed from hot mineral spring water rich in calcium carbonate.  The Romans settled here

St. Sofia, Instanbul

Emperor Constantine was the first Christian Roman emperor. Istanbul was formerly known as Constantinople and St. Sofia was a cathedral. With the city falling into the hands of the Ottoman Turks the cathedral became a mosque. All Christian drawings were covered with plaster. Now the building is a museum and the removal of the plaster brought back fresh images of early Christian paintings. The stained glass panels remained intact following the orders of a sultan.

Saint Sophia a museum now.

Notice both Christian and Islamic decorations.

The largest Cathedral in Europe at one time.

Ceiling decoration.

Angulated to point to Mecca.

The Virgin Mary and Christ previously hidden by plaster.

Grandstand for the Sultan during prayers.

Some of these pillars may have been taken from the temple of Artemis in Ephesus.

An angel.

Christ and Emperor Constantine.

Gerome Valley, Cappadocia

Dinning room of the monks with seats made of rock.

Hundreds of chapels carved into the hillsides date back to 373 AD.

The rock formation is spectacular. There were Greek Orthodox monasteries built into the rocks. These places were excellent sites for religious studies and self reflection.  Unfortunately the churhes with its wall paintings of Christ were defaced. Most of the Christian Greeks were forced to leave Turkey following the imposition of the Greek Turk Transfer of 1923.

Ephesus

Former Roman official residences

Sculptures

The Arcadian Way leading to the ancient city of Ephesus where the apostles Paul and John visited.

A Roman fountain

Mosaic walkway.

Facade of a rich man's house.

Toilet bowls in a row to cater for the numerous sea farers.

The Library of Celsus built by a former slave from Rome.

Statue at the Library of Celsus.

An amphitheater where gladiators once fought

The church in Ephesus was one of the seven churches mentioned in the book of Revelation. The apostle John wrote the Gosple of John and the 3 Epistles in Ephesus. He wrote the Book of Revelation on the  island of Patmos.  During the time of Christian persecution he brought Jesus's mother Mary to safety in Ephesus. The house of the Virgin Mary was discovered in the 19th century from the description in a book which recorded the vision of Anne Catherine Emmerich a Roman Catholic nun.  John the apostle died of old age in Ephesus.

Underground Cities of Kaymakli, Cappadocia

This underground city was initially built below a village.

Our tour guide giving a briefing.



In the kitchen.

Some nearby cave homes.

These cities were constructed by the Christians who were escaping Roman persecution. The Christians were safe after the baptism of Emperor Constantine. Within the city were living spaces, stores and kitchen.  The rooms were secured with large solid rock wheels-like doors.  The passage ways were narrow allowing the inhabitants to fight the Roman soldiers one at a time.