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ulture is
determined by those living in it. It changes from country to
country and even from one city to another city. It includes
language, customs, and laws. In some countries automobiles
are driven on one side of the road, and in other country they
may be driven on the other side. Each country has a different
flag, anthem, currency, and heroes. In some countries the weekend
starts on Thursday, and in others the weekend begins with Saturday.
Customs are different and so are the standards of acceptable
conduct. Many of us believe that culture is neither good or
bad. But that conclusion is wrong when the people in a country,
province, city, or group start determining what is moral. When
men and women ignore God and start determining what is right
and wrong, the moral standards are determined by the population.
The moral standards change because the men and women change.
City of Pergamum.
The culture in Pergamum was like the culture in many other
surrounding cities. You may soon discover that in some ways,
it was like your culture. Pergamum was a famous city and
the capital of Asia Minor. It was located in a valley and
received its water from the Bergama Cayl River. The business
center of the city
(the acropolis) was located in a fortified
stronghold on a rocky hill
about 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the valley floor.
A famous library was built in the city during the second century
by Eumenes II. The library had 200,000 volumes and was a rival
of the library in Alexandria, Egypt. In fact, the city was
named after the parchment used to make many of the books. The
library was part of Pergamum’s culture. But this symbol
of pride was given away by Mark Anthony to his “girl
friend,” Cleopatra, as a gift. The library of Alexandria
became even more famous. Today, there are no ruins of this
cultural symbol.
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