Ishtar Gate

The Ishtar Gate measures 15 meters in height with walls covered in bright blue glazed bricks featuring relief patterns of dragons, bulls, and lions.

German archaeologist Robert Koldewey conducted excavations from 1904 to 1914, leading to the gate's reconstruction at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin after World War I.

The gate formed part of the annual New Year's festival procession route, where deity statues passed through during a twelve-day celebration of the agricultural year.

Visitors can examine fragments of the original gate at several museums worldwide, with the primary reconstruction located at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.

The gate's construction required specialized clay bricks pressed into wooden forms, creating seamless connections between the 575 relief decorations arranged in 13 rows.

Location: Hillah

Inception: 575 BCE

Part of: Babylon

GPS coordinates: 32.54333,44.42222

Latest update: November 2, 2025 20:40