It the great city of Babylon during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. At that time, it had up to seven doors bearing the names of Babylonian deities. The gates of the goddess Ishtar in Babylon of special beauty. From which the famous procession route set off, heading to Isagila. The temple of the patron saint of Babylon, Marduk. The ruins of the Ishtar Gate and now remain one of the most important testimonies. To the former glory of Babylon.
Description of the gate of the goddess Ishtar in Babylon
The processional route perhaps the best route in the ancient world because it not intended for people and chariots to walk. But for the great god and patron of Babylon, Marduk, who made his way once a year. With her to Isagella. Its origin exactly at the gates of Ishtar.
Ishtar revered as the goddess of beauty and love, compared to Venus. Ishtar’s cult arose in the city of Uruk, which it a patron of. Among the cities of Babylon, there seven great cities, including Uruk. Each patron deity of one of these cities reflected at the gates of Babylon. Which supposed to symbolize the country’s unity. Since Ishtar identified as Murdoch’s wife, the main front gate has been designated for her.
The Babylonian gates of Ishtar the Great double. The interior two times larger than the outside. The glazed bricks shone in the sun, while the background decorated with 575 prominent images of revered animals. Here, the aforementioned procession route, which continued through the city, began on Yibor Street as a young man. With the advent of the New Year, a large procession organized led by a golden statue of Marduk.
The street itself mostly made of pink stone slabs, with red stone inlays around the edges. It 23 meters wide, and along its entire length, it accompanied by walls of blue-glazed bricks seven meters high. Every two meters, the walls decorated with bold images of lions in spooky poses.
But sooner or later, everything collapses, so the beauty of the gates of the goddess Ishtar. Only appreciated after German scientists conducted research here. In total, about 100 thousand blocks of bricks found, which previously formed the portal. They all collected and taken to Berlin, where it later possible to restore the gate. In its original size from real Babylonian bricks. The Ishtar Gate now in the Pergamon Museum (Berlin). There also a restored section of the motorcade route. Smaller restored parts of Babylonian heritage on display in many museums around the world. Istanbul Archaeological Museum, Detroit Museum, Louvre, etc. The Ishtar Gate in Iraq, which currently the admiration of tourists and the place of pilgrimage.
The appearance of the gate of the goddess Ishtar
The most famous gates of the city wall of Babylon double gates. At the same time, the inside of it almost twice the size of the outer part. The building 26 meters high and about 30 meters wide. The entrance a semicircular arch.
Glazed bricks used in the construction. The main color of the building light blue. This gave the gate a special grandeur, and it immediately distinguished. It against the background of yellow sand and gray houses. The blue color also believed to symbolize the goddess Ishtar.
The ceiling and the scarf made of cedar, and their edges bronze. Against a background of bright blue brick, 575 relief images of sacred animals – sirrush and bulls – stand out. In threatening poses, they also decorated walls along the procession path. As they supposed to “accompany” the deities during the ceremonial procession.
The width of the Road 23 m. The walls along with it to a height of 7 m finished with blue glazed bricks.
Secrets of the Ishtar Gate
One of the main mysteries of the Ishtar Gate in Babylon the ingredients used to make the decorative cover. There still an opinion that they did not exist in ancient times and particles of cosmic dust.
There a few unanswered questions related to enamel fabrication technology. How did the craftsmen manage to maintain the same burning temperature as the bricks? How their dye amount verified with high accuracy?
To obtain a brick with a durable decorative layer. At least 12 hours of firing at a temperature of 1000 ° C. will be required. Today, qualified specialists and “smart” equipment cope with these tasks. It’s hard to believe that people achieved similar results in 570 BC.
Excavation and reconstruction of landmarks
At the end of the nineteenth century. German archaeologist Robert Koldoy able to secure funding for excavations in the territory of ancient Babylon.
An interesting fact: the excavations lasted about 17 years and only interrupted by the entry of British forces into Baghdad.
Among the ruins of the great city, archaeologists found the collapsed part of the Ishtar Gate. Scientists collected and exported to Germany about 100 thousand well-preserved bricks. Among these, a copy of the Babylonian Gate erected at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Completely preserving the proportions, but reducing the size. The height of the restoration 14 meters and its length 10 meters. Visitors to the museum can also see the restored section of the motorcade route.
In the museums of Paris, Detroit, New York, Boston, Istanbul, and other major cities of the world. Separate sections of the Babylonian Gate preserved.
The Iraq Museum has its own Ishtar Gate. But it built from modern building materials, stylized like the iconic blue bricks.
The reconstruction of the gate to the goddess Ishtar. Gives an almost complete picture of the original form in the ancient city. They amaze with their grandeur even in a reduced version.
