Ishtar Gate
- Glazed bricks
- Circa 575 B.C.E
- 38' High Gate, with a half-mile paved corridor with 50' + walls
- Current Location: Pergamon Museum, Berlin Germany
- Ownership disputed by: Iraq
The Ishtar Gate was the eighth and main gate into the city of Babylon (present day Iraq) circa 575 BCE. It was constructed by Nebuchadnezzar II in a campaign to beautify the capital, along with building The Hanging Gardens. The gate made the initial list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but was replaced by the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
The gate was excavated by German archaeologist Robert Koldewey beginning in 1902. At the outbreak of World War I, the excavated pieces were quickly moved to the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, where a portion of the gate was reconstructed for public viewing. The gate is too large for full reconstruction, so some portions have been loaned to other museums while others remain in storage in Germany.
In 2002, Iraq officially requested the return of the Ishtar Gate, citing that the Germans did not have permission to remove the pieces. Germany and the Pergamon Museum have not commented on record and seem to be just ignoring the request. The Gate remains on display in Berlin as of 2017.
The gate was excavated by German archaeologist Robert Koldewey beginning in 1902. At the outbreak of World War I, the excavated pieces were quickly moved to the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, where a portion of the gate was reconstructed for public viewing. The gate is too large for full reconstruction, so some portions have been loaned to other museums while others remain in storage in Germany.
In 2002, Iraq officially requested the return of the Ishtar Gate, citing that the Germans did not have permission to remove the pieces. Germany and the Pergamon Museum have not commented on record and seem to be just ignoring the request. The Gate remains on display in Berlin as of 2017.