BERLIN #2 - THE PERGAMON MUSEUM

[jenni_blog]

This museum is laid out in 3 parts on "Museum Island" so that the visitor can pass seamlessly from its collection of classical antiquities to the new museum that has an exhibition of ancient minor arts, through to the Greek and Roman architecture in the Pergamon.

One of the most impressive things to see is the Great Frieze, which depicts a mythological battle between the gods and the giants, restored in life size and displayed in one great room. This is the first room that we entered.

The Temple of Ishtar and the Processional Way into Babylon is a stunning reconstruction of 625 B.C. architecture. The Ishtar Gate is comprised of glazed clay bricks - some original - some replicas.

There are also some very ancient artefacts here - dating back to some monuments of Sumerian culture from around 2350 B.C. in ceramic, stone and metallurgy.

Islamic art is also on display, as well as some artefacts and jewelry in gold, from the Scythians and from around Constantinople.

I took so many photos and cannot possibly post them all, so here are a good assortment of what the Pergamon has to offer.



The steps up to the museum...a lot of steps!



We went to the Greek & Roman room first. You can see how huge it is...there are people sitting on the Roman steps!



Part of the Great Frieze.



Here is a model of the temple/altar in a glass case.



More frieze work.



One thing that is great is that you can walk around and touch things...you are there!




Some columns.



A beautiful floor with some of the intricate mosaic tile work...such tiny tiles...so much work!



Another view of the Market Gate of Milet.



A gate in the town wall where people came from the north to visit Babylon.



In this view of the wall you can see better the glazed tiles and the colour.



The beautiful ceiling.



Some artefacts...very ancient things.











I love these big cats!





A big cooking kettle.



Some depictions of the excavation.




Some of the beautiful jewelry on display.



Okay, that is all for today. If anyone wants, I can post more from the Pergamon, but most of the rest is the same as what is here.

Tomorrow will be more from Berlin...some spectacular night-time photos of decorations, etc.

Comments

[aglaiya.livejournal.com]

OMG! You have done a really good 'job'! Your photos are GREAT!

I will be always in love with the Ishtar Gate and the Processional Way!

The Pergamon Altar is one of the BEST reconstructions I have ever seen!

It's not an Ishtar Temple it was the gate in the townwall where people came to visit Babylon from the north side of the town. Thanks so much for the 'Ishtar' book you gifted me. There I could read some interesting facts.
The Processional Way was much longer than the part we could see at the museum, it lead the people from the north outside the town to the part where the Marduk Tempel and the smaller ones were. I think you remember the model of the big temple we have seen.
I love it so much and it makes me thinking about how small people are and that they can do great!

Another view of the reconstruction. The Market Gate of Milet.

Here is a model of the original marketplace in a glass case. not a market place it was a temple/altar.

Atm I'm watching a BBC series about ancient history. It's interesting!

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

Awww...thanks. Some of the photos are darkish...I think it is because I set my camera to "auto" and let it make its own settings for the pics. Just because I didn't want to constantly have to screw around with the settings all the time and miss stuff. I know if you are too caught up with the photography while looking at something you can miss a lot of what you are seeing! (I have done that at football matches...I just click away trying to capture all my favourite players and MISS what is going on!)

Thanks for your corrections. The Market Gate of Milet! Yes, I read about it in the book I have about the whole museum!

The Ishtar Temple, gate and Processional Way are totally awesome. I am glad you are enjoying the book!

I totally love ancient history. In the book I have about the Pergamon it talks about the Sumerians and what a sophisticated culture they had from such a long time ago! It truly is mind-boggling. I hope I can catch the same series you are watching. :)

[aglaiya.livejournal.com]

What we have seen in the museum is NOT an Ishtar Temple. It's the Ishtar Gate and the Processional Way and there are also some bigger parts of the throne room of the king.

The series I'm watching is named: 'BBC Ancient Worlds' in six parts. I have downloaded it.

Hahahahah maybe that's the reason because I'm a really shitty photographer.

[quabazaa.livejournal.com]

Wow just gorgeous!!

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

Isn't it amazing? God, I love to travel and visit places like this. And take lots of photos! :)

[lady--croft.livejournal.com]

Great photos. It must have been amazing, almost overwhelming to view in person. As a classical studies major I love looking at anything related to the ancient world. Makes me wish I was back there instead of here...our architecture though functional and creative often doesn't quite have that artistic flair of the ancients. Can I suggest your next vacation? You should go to Petra.

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Yes, in person it was awe-inspiring. Like the Capuchin monastery in Sintra, Portugal, with its 'hobbit holes' that we visited in 2007 and the ruins of Pompeii in Italy where we went last year, this glimpse of ancient civilization really does fill you with a profound sense of peace. It's hard to explain but well worth experiencing. Petra sounds like an absolutely wonderful place to go for vacation. I'll have to look into it thoroughly. Thanks for the recommendation. :)

[txorakeriak.livejournal.com]

Wow, that looks pretty impressive! O___O I love how they arranged this - you must have felt as if you're in the middle of an actual ancient ruin! Awesome!

[wildmopdogs.livejournal.com]

1. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm51/jenn8ferZ/Personal/december2010310.jpg
2. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm51/jenn8ferZ/Personal/december2010319.jpg
0.0 omg are those real or replicas? (or were those the ones that you said were a mixture of both?)

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm51/jenn8ferZ/Personal/december2010355.jpg
That necklace is gorgeous ♥

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

They are part real, part replica. The large market area with the friezes and the steps is all real, I think. They could not fix some of the broken pieces and you can see them there along with the pieces they managed to put together.

The Entrance into Babylon is a replica. They had photos of the site where the digging took place, and they were able to make an impressive and beautiful replica.

OMG, the jewelry and all the GOLD fascinated the hell out of me! To think they were handmade and so incredibly detailed and beautiful! It was so stunning I can't even begin to describe it.

And yet again I did not buy something I really liked...a replica of the necklace! And some gorgeous earrings that were replicas of gold coins. They weren't all that expensive, so I am kicking myself that I didn't get them!

(Maybe I will send my friend some money and ask her to go get them for me!) :(

[wildmopdogs.livejournal.com]

oh you should! 'cause that necklace is BEAUTIFUL! ♥