PERGE or PERGA(Πέργη: Eth. Περγαῖος), an ancient and important city of Pamphylia, between the rivers Catarrhactes and Cestrus, at a distance of 60 stadia from the mouth of the latter. (Strab. 14. p. 667; Plin. Nat. 5.26; Pomp. Mel. 1.14; Ptol. 5.5.7.) It was renowned for the worship of Artemis, whose temple stood on a hill outside the town, and in whose honour annual festivals were celebrated. (Strab. l. c.;Callim. Hymn. in Dian. 187; Scylax, p. 39; Dionys. Per. 854.) The coins of Perge represent both the goddess and her temple. Alexander the Great occupied Perge with a part of his army after quitting Phaselis, between which two towns the road is described as long and difficult (Arrian, Arr. Anab. 1.26; comp. Plb. 5.72, 22.25; COIN OF PERGE.
Liv. 38.37.) We learn from the Acts of the Apostles (14.24, 25) that Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel at Perge. (Comp. Acts, 13.13.) In the ecclesiastical notices and in Hierocles (p. 679) Perge appears as the metropolis of Pamphylia. (Comp. Steph. B. s. v.;Eckhel, Doctr. Num. 1.3, p. 12.) There are considerable ruins of Perge about 16 miles to the north-east of Adalia, at a place now called Eski-Kalesi. (Comp. Leake, Asia Minor, p. 132; Texier, Descript. de l'Asie Min., where the ruins are figured in 19 plates; Fellows, Asia Minor, p. 190, &c.)
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