After the Bode Museum we hit the Pergamon Museum, one of the main reasons we wanted to visit Berlin.
The museum is most famous for, and named after, the second-century BC altar to Zeus from Pergamon in what is now modern-day Turkey.
Model of what the altar is thought to have originally looked like. The structure was enormous, and most of what survives is now reconstructed in Berlin.
Same model, from a different point of view. Through the columns at the top of the gate would have been the sacrificial altar.
View from the top of the stairs. Most of the columns in the museum are modern reconstructions.
The altar is probably best known for its over 400 foot long sculptural frieze that wraps around the entire monument. About 100 larger-than-life figures show a depiction of a Gigantomachy, or a battle between the Gods and the Giants. In this scene the goddess Athena (standing in the center) pulls the hair of the Giant Alkyoneos (on the left) as Nike (or Victory) flies in from the right to crown Athena. Gaia, the earth goddess, is on the bottom right.
Detail of Alkyoneos, from above, showing the detail of carving, and the intensity of emotion portrayed.
Details from other sections...
One of the best things about the sculpted figures is that those bordering the staircase appear as if they are climbing up it, as seen above. It totally brings the viewer into the scene and makes it feel as if the battle is happening in the moment.
Two art nerds happily geeking out :)
The other main attraction in the museum is the c. 575 BC Ishtar gate from ancient Babylon.
A reconstruction of the processional walkway leading up to the actual gate.
There was a model of the entire structure in the museum, but it didn't photograph well, so here is a drawing of what it may have originally looked like.
Another drawing, showing the gate.
Detail of the gate. All of the blue stone is lapus lazuli.
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