The city of Babylon—once the religious and political heart of the known world—was one of the cities of ancient Mesopotamia that saw the celebration of the New Year on a massive scale. In southern Mesopotamia, Babylon’s Ishtar Gate formed one of the central monuments of this festival. During the festival, gods assembled from other Babylonian cities to pay their respects to Marduk, the patron deity of Babylon and the chief god of the Babylonian pantheon. This was a rare opportunity for the public to see the gods, who arrived in elaborately decorated boats and chariots, and were ultimately paraded down the Processional Way and through the Ishtar Gate on their way to Marduk’s temple. ISAW’s exhibition—A Wonder to Behold: Craftsmanship and the Creation of Babylon’s Ishtar Gate—honors this monument and its religious significance through the exploration of its ancient construction.

Event Schedule: 10.30—11.30AM GALLERY TOUR: Curator-led tour of the Assyrian galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art 1.00—3.00PM EXHIBITION TOURS: Curator-led tours of ISAW's A Wonder to Behold: Craftsmanship and the Creation of Babylon’s Ishtar Gate 3.00—4.00PM LECTURE: Lecture by Dr. Sargon Donabed, Associate Professor of History, Roger Williams University Light refreshments will be provided. This event is open to all. Event details will be sent to attendees via email following registration. Space is limited.