The Ishtar Gate of Babylon as seen at the Pergamon Museum in Germany.Image credit: imageBROKER.com GmbH & Co. KG/Alamy Stock Photo
Posted on 01/31/2024 7:43:19 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Archaeologists measured the magnetic fields found in clay bricks to determine the construction date of Babylon's Ishtar Gate.
Babylon's bright-blue Ishtar Gate was thought to have been built to celebrate the conquest of Jerusalem — but a new analysis finds that it may have been erected years later.
The iconic glazed-brick edifice, which King Nebuchadnezzar II ordered to be built and decorated with wild bulls and mušhuššu-dragons while ruling the Babylonian empire from 605 to 562 B.C., was constructed in three phases and served as the entrance to the ancient city of Babylon, located in southern Mesopotamia. However, the exact dates of each construction phase have long been up for debate...
While it's known that Nebuchadnezzar II ordered the first phase, as these bricks are inscribed with his name, it was less clear if some time had passed before the second and third phases were completed, according to the study. Some researchers even wondered if Nebuchadnezzar II had died before the gate's completion...
This new analysis determined that there were no "significant chronological gaps" between each construction phase and that the "gate complex was constructed some time after the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem" that took place in 586 B.C. During the conquest of Jerusalem, the Babylonians destroyed Solomon's Temple, also known as the First Temple; burned down the city; and exiled the Jews to southern Mesopotamia, also known as Babylonia.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
The Ishtar Gate of Babylon as seen at the Pergamon Museum in Germany.Image credit: imageBROKER.com GmbH & Co. KG/Alamy Stock Photo
Archaeologists
A close relative of mine was curator for the Milwaukee Museum of History. His name escapes me as I write this.
I once wrote to him seeking advice as to get into the field of biblical archaeology, and he responded cordially.
The more I read on the subject, however, it left me wondering how so many in the field make so many assumptions. Moreover it was really dry reading.
If I were to spend time in the presence of an archaeologist I would be sure to tweak.
“How do you know?” Well, all we have are reasonable guesses. Okay. What makes them reasonable? Again, the multitude and enormity of guesswork is a bit daunting.
I don’t mean to throw shade on the field. It is essential to history. I only scratch my head when it comes to interpretation of its evidence.
Coulda been the gates to the world’s first Jewish deli with a big fancy entrance…
Big statue in front of Nebuchadnezzar eating a hot pastrami.
I'm sorry I had to laugh on that sentence. Getting old is so much fun isn't it. Sad part is, we forget the fun parts too quickly. 🤣
Or maybe the corned beef.
The menu is clearly illustrated on the walls.
Looks to be mostly horse. :o~~~
That’s probably the mane course.
Heh
the dragon of the Ishtar gate, by Sprague de Camp, does feature the ‘dragons’ on this gate and offer one possible explanation for them.
Thx.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dragon_of_the_Ishtar_Gate
https://www.worldhistory.org/image/732/dragon-of-the-ishtar-gate/
Rudy Dornemann
Somehow it leapt to mind as I read your post. By “close relative” I mean he married one of my Grandpa’s sisters. Never met him in person. Only corresponded by mail.
But, yeah. Some mornings I cannot even remember if I donned deoderant 30 seconds ago or less.
A lot of their so called facts are assumptions based on their political views.
mušhuššu-dragons?
Our Chinese Restaurant doesn’t have mušhuššu-dragons on the menu any more............
https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1991/06/07/body-found-in-car-in-sinkhole/
Rudy is mentioned in this article.
I love it when it’s always “we” when they’re wrong.
So he wasn't really a close relative. A close relative is someone known personally with numerous personal contacts, at least to me.
Then again, only a handful of my relatives were known to me. I would say that family was not an important characteristic they held dear for whatever reason.
So, I assume that the article mentioned two family members of yours, or is just Rudy considered the family member?
Rudy for sure. The missing person was, I think, his uncle. Yeah. I should have said “distant relative,” but I like to brag. It turns out that Rudy served as Executive Director of the American Society of Oriental Research before his retirement. I’m trying to gather more information about him.
My grandfather, one of the few relatives I knew, was consulate general to Scotland following the end of WWII, which is the military equivalent of Ambassador. He entertained Queen Elizabeth & Prince Phillip whenever they would visit Balmoral Castle.
When he returned stateside he was high up in the State Dept. and was listed in the Who's Who in America book for many years (decades). So I understand what you are saying. 🙂
I was the black sheep of the family. Being just a computer programmer was enough for me. 😋
Now I’M STARVING (me want Corned beef)...
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