Babylon and the ancient Near East: Berlin’s most important archaeological museum

The Pergamon Museum is considered to be the visitor magnet par excellence among Berlin’s museums. With the shimmering turquoise Ishtar Gate and the monumental Market Gate of Miletus from antiquity, the majestic building on Museum Island is sure to impress. Walk along the Processional Way of Babylon as you would have if you lived more than 2,600 years ago. Behind the Ishtar Gate, the world of classical antiquity opens up to you. The question inevitably arises: How did the peoples of antiquity manage to build structures of such dimensions and with such rich ornamentation? On the upper floor, you can admire magnificent works from the Islamic world in addition to the architectural masterpieces from the ancient Near East and classical antiquity. After the famous merchant and archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann uncovered Troy, excavation fever broke out in the 19th century. German explorers went to Pergamon, Miletus, Babylon, Uruk, Assur and Egypt. The Ottoman Empire granted generous conditions for the sharing of excavated discoveries, and important architectural monuments, sculptures and small treasures were exported to Berlin. These objects were on display on Berlin’s Museum Island, in the predecessor building of the Pergamon Museum. However, after a short period of time the premises were no longer sufficient to hold all the exhibits. Between 1910 and 1930, the Pergamon Museum was built according to plans by the architect Alfred Messel. It soon became one of Berlin’s main attractions. In addition to the striking Pergamon Altar - the pinnacle of Hellenistic art - the 17-metre-high Market Gate of Miletus and the magnificent Ishtar Gate form the core of the exhibition. In each of the wings you will find one of the three collections: Parts of the Collection of Classical Antiquities in the central building, the Museum of the Ancient Near East on the main floor of the south wing, and the Museum of Islamic Art on the upper floor. Five Berlin State museums form the ensemble on Museum Island. The highlight par excellence in the Neuen Museum is the famous bust of Nefertiti.

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/pergamon-museum