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Description
Built during the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BC) for the Babylon walls, and dedicated to the mesopotamian mother goddess Ishtar (called "Ishtar gate").
This is a partial reconstruction of the gate. It is only the frontal section, and it is 15 meters high (the original frontal section was more high: there was a part between the arch and the merlons not rebuilted for the height of the hall).
This is one of the first examples of arch in the world.
The animals represents Adad (the bull), the weather god, and Marduk ("Mushhuschu", the mythological hybrid, also called "dragon"), the national deity and chief god. Ishtar is represented in the processional way in front of the gate (partially reconstructed) in lioness form.
Made in glazed ceramics. Most of the bricks are original.
In the frontal-right side of the gate there is an inscription in babylonian cuneiform. The original place of this inscription is unknown, and it is based on another better preserved building inscription by Nebuchadnezzar II stored in London (England, United Kingdom). It reads: "I (=Nebuchadnezzar) laid the foundation of the gates down to the ground water level [...] and had them built out of sheer blue stone, on which bulls and dragons were elaborately painted. [...] I set up wild bulls and furious dragons in front of the gates and thus magnificently adorned them with luxurious splendour for all mankind to look at in surprise." (abridged excerpt)
Pergamon museum, Berlin (Germany).

Description
Built during the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BC) for the Babylon walls, and dedicated to the mesopotamian mother goddess Ishtar (called "Ishtar gate").
This is a partial reconstruction of the gate. It is only the frontal section, and it is 15 meters high (the original frontal section was more high: there was a part between the arch and the merlons not rebuilted for the height of the hall).
This is one of the first examples of arch in the world.
The animals represents Adad (the bull), the weather god, and Marduk ("Mushhuschu", the mythological hybrid, also called "dragon"), the national deity and chief god. Ishtar is represented in the processional way in front of the gate (partially reconstructed) in lioness form.
Made in glazed ceramics. Most of the bricks are original.
In the frontal-right side of the gate there is an inscription in babylonian cuneiform. The original place of this inscription is unknown, and it is based on another better preserved building inscription by Nebuchadnezzar II stored in London (England, United Kingdom). It reads: "I (=Nebuchadnezzar) laid the foundation of the gates down to the ground water level [...] and had them built out of sheer blue stone, on which bulls and dragons were elaborately painted. [...] I set up wild bulls and furious dragons in front of the gates and thus magnificently adorned them with luxurious splendour for all mankind to look at in surprise." (abridged excerpt)
Pergamon museum, Berlin (Germany).